The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-05
Statement from DR.. Niles.

Editor Of the Times:
notice In your paper that move Is
heinz, made in your city toward s'ahnpihs
out tuberculoslI iTom among the uaii9
herds supplying the city Win ihiiA' "i'
"a certainly "A move III the Ilsnl ~
ton. and should be pus &c" 10 cO'
The City Council, private l4i'' P"s 80,
dairymen, and the citizens u 80, .,t,sr
e,,a,',d al lend their aid IN this matter
,nr an. Good OF the public health Non-
s,.,,ers ~ milk should demand thht they
- s,,nnlied with pure supply Oh 'ii",
,,.fcts Tuberculosis Is TO DC u'S1"'N
s,or. than all OF the other coh'"s'ou9
and infectious diseases comDlue", az" 80.
les. stems are soon taken 10 H'""'P -
d. disease. IL will spread aiho"s
human family (as well as the io"ei a."
,'.a,n 10 "A much more alarming cAl'.''
than IL now exists. And IL no" 49,
such an alarming extent that oFel VA.
enth OF the deaths in the human i"'"'''
from all classes Of diseases are u"0 -
some form OF Tuberculosis Ooilui"e wy
deaths from smallpox. dlph'heii"' 10
,o,-fe,,er and all other contagious Gis-
- r., Tho United States, and 1t VIII be
sound that the deaths from tubercuiosis
Ear exceed them each year. III accuIuee
sfotistics were obtainable, II wOuiu aiSo
be found that the mortality among dally
COWS each year i'd due more 10 tuneIOu-
Iosis than all other diseases coinDilcu'
Tbero IS no doubt TN the writer ol'lu-
ion but what fifty per cent. Oh an Wy
cases OF tuberculosis in the human
family are due to the use OF tupet-uio"s
milk. :, 49,, many,
eminent veterinarians, VINO uio "''''
brought In contact with tuoerculous ca
lie The fact that cattle may hainoI '',e .
disease for an indefinite time W4thoa'
showing any outward symptoms OF 'ue
disease and vet be capable OF cOminuhl-
eating II TO the human family, makes il
all the more imperative That al uais
herds should De examined. FOR thiS Pu'
nose, tuberculin, in the hands or expert
Is absolutely reliable. The disease can
only be detected by a physical eNaihlh"
ton i'm the most advanced stages. aHu
Is. therefore, unreliable: since many GaA
gcrous COWS Will escape and continue l'
spread the disease.
The writer has had a large ana saus
factory experience with the NJ OF tep'f
culin. with this agent six head OF tn
berculous cows were detected, and after
wards destroyed In the dairy herd at the
experiment station. Also. at the reques
OF CAPTAIN G. T.. Nawter, Of the Mile
| Schook. the writer applied the tuberculir
] test on two different occasions, 10 IN
| herd belonging TO that institution, Will
| the resblt that two tuberculous cows
which were not previously suspected
were detected.
Under the present law. we can. as stat
| authorities. apply the tuberculln test L
| all herds reported to US as being suspl
| cious.
| We are perfectly willing 10 aid in tn
work Of DISCRIMINATING the disease II
| dairy and breeding herds but 1t would b.
| an utter impossibility for US TO attempt q
| make the tuberculin test on all herd
of the State, without a large force o
| assistants. In view Of this fact. eacl
| city should have its own dairy inspector
whose duty Il should be 10 inspect wit
| tuberculln all herds supplying milk {
the city. I may state further that W
will lend our hearty cooperation In al
such matters.
The disease not only exists among IN
| dairy herds Of Richmond. but extend
throughout the State. regardless of IN
amusing statements of J. S. y.
+. =. NILES.
State Veterinarian.
Blacksbure. Va, May 4, 1896