The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-31
DIR. rRIrroN COMES BACK.
He Again Inveighs Against the ino's'
eliminate Use of Tubercuiin.

slr-In your issue OF the 9th instant
n communication appeared from DR.. Har-
baugh which amounts 10 nothing hiole
than an attack on me Tor uarlhs W -
press my views on question OF puois
interest through the public press anu
as the article appeared I'm your paper
ask I'm common justice the space LOT
reply. -,
lished a letter OF mine written sometime
Inconsistency. There is nothing in that
letter which | am not prepared az TINS
time TO rcitorate. ana l submit 20 unS
thinking unprejudiced mind that there y
not one syllable in that letter which ad-
vocates or defends the indiscriminate use
OF tuberculin. In my last letter l ak
pressly stated that tuberculln Is n vaiu-
able dlagnostlc agent, but its use Is py
no means a perfected science, ana IL mas
been repeatedly shown, upon good au-
thoritv. that perfectly healthy animals
have been diseased by its injection. Ihe
most permanent way to advance any
science is by well directed and patient
Investigation; and not by crazy hurran.
VIII Or. Harbaugh tell the public why II
Is that twenty-three head of cattle at
BlOOmingdale were, by this last inspec-
tion passed as sound, which were con-
demned By a United States Government
test? When he says. we are not re-
suOuefble for the mistakes or ignorance
Of other people" does he mean TO dis
credit the United States Government,
whose tuberculin he uses. and by whose
directions he is governed2 How does Or.
Harhaugh account for the fact that not
a single calf fed on this highly conta-
gious. tuberculous milk. has shown reac-
ton. but upon the other hand, all have
proven free from tuberculosis even by
his infallible test2 Suppose one-fourth
OF the COWS killed for Mr.. Grant did show
tuberculosis Of the mammary glands.
does that argue that all cattle should be
subjected 10 the tuherculn test thereby
running the risk OF communicating disease
10 the cattle that are healthy and free
from tuberculosis2 OF the ciws condemn
ed. he acknowledges that three-fourths
do not show tuberculosis OF the NAM
mary glands: what is 10 become OF them7
Some OF the best authorities assert that
their milk IS pure. and 20 support this
claim here publish an extrast from Or.
f. s. Billings letter. received by me, after
the publication OF the letter 20 which DR..
Harbaugh replied. Or. Billings stands IN
the fore front OF the veterinares OF the
world and his opinion everywhere. car
rios with II weight and respectful con-
sideration. unless indeed. IT is left for
Or. Harbaugh TO belittie IT, Or. Billings
says:
u do not consider a test on which all
cattle showing the reaction should De
condemned as unfit 10 produce milk for
consumption or 20 condemn the flesh as
unsuitable for food. The general condi-
ton OF the animal and freedom OF the
udder from tubercuiar nduration IS or
more Importance than the mere fact OF
tuhorculin reaction. ] DO not AT an agree
with the existing sensauonalism stimu-
lated boy the government veternarles 70
keep their jobs. and rob both the treasu-
~ and tho farmer Nor can the disease
ever be stamped out by their methods.
The Cattle Commission use the tuber-
cuiin prepared by the Bureau of Animal
Industry. and the fact stands beyond
ouesti0n that q number OF bad cases OF
general seuticaemia have followed its
USE"
also quote from the last printed re-
ports of the United States Government
on the subject:
"The precise composition OF tuberculin
Is unknown It's exact quantities nave nor
been determined. and the methods used
90 test It's strength and purity are im-
perfect" iSee United States Investigation
Concerning Bovine tuberculosis. 1871
page 25)
From these authorities Il appears 10
me that the adoption OF such measures
as Or. Harbaugh seems 10 advocate
would result I'm more benefit 10 the veterl-
narles than 10 the milk and beef-consum-
ing pubic. Suppose an ordinance Is pass
ed making the tuDerculiu test comoulsO-
rs I'm all cases where the milk is sold IN
Richmond regardless OF whether the milk
| itself IS pure or not. how would this az
| feet parties In Maryland and North Caro-
| ina who had pure milk to sell? Couldn't
! they ship milk here and demand under
the laws OF the United States that the
milk be tested, and If found pure. ouer
10 for sale on its merits, regardless Of
the tuberculin test2 Wouldn't this break
down home industry for the benefit Of
| outsiders
Ina he interest II common sense let US
make haste slowly IN this matter, and
not DIES roy a great home industry with
| out accomplishing the desired good.
| Science can receive no harder blow than
| by forcing 10 upon the public before II has
| been perfected 10 that degree which war
rants its universal adoption, thereby
| bringing 10 into disrepute. How Is the
tubercullu test nader Take, say lOV
cows from the pasture, hudIle them in
q close barn this warm weather. inject
some foreign matter into their blood,
| hold them by main force every TWO hours
| for fOrty-eight hours 10 take their tenn
perature, and is IL surprising that they
| will show some Increase 10 temperature
| rasteur, one OF the FIRST man iaciuiers
OF tuberculln, claims that An increase ~
per cent in temperature IS necessary TO
| show tuberculosis. and yet, II | am cor
! rectly informed many or the Blooming
| dale herd were condemned on much
| less increase in temperature: The cat
| tie have not been h.lled and VINO can as
sert with certainty that al Of these cat
! tie condemned are diseased. The aLthOri-
ties themselves differed widely IN test
ing this very herd. Kochs lymph was
| heralded abroad as something wonder
| full and nfalliDle. and after killing MANY
| men, has fallen into disuse, tuberculln
! practically Is the same thing. only az
piled 10 animals. Vuberculln may be a
| good thing Ia its place, but like whisky,
! when improperly and rasnly used. IS capa-
| bile Of doing an incalculable amount OF
| horm.
AS TO the personalities contained in Or.
| Harbaughs card and the personal in
| uendoes" be refers to: Surely he must
| have had a nightmare, or he Is suffering
from a distempered or dis0rdered imagl-
| nation. 10 is, 10 say the least Of IL, an
| unwarranted conceit OF his 10 assume
| that my communication referred exclu-
! s'yely 20 him. | addressed my letter 20
| the public and through the public press,
| and / can account Tor the position he as
sumes In no other way than that he ar
| rogates 10 himself a monopoly Of scien-
| tihc learning. on this point, however, 1
| will not dwell. as l am I'm no sense re-
| spOnsibe for the extent OF his knowledge,
| or for the measures he may adopt from
time 10 time in order 10 obtain further
| Information. 1 will only let the public
4 know what value DR.. Harbaugh placed
upon his own knowledge OF cows before
| the Office Of milk Inspector doomed uD
on the horizOnl Here is the certificate OF
"A reputable citizen OF siXty-slx years OF
age. and IL was duly sworn TO:
Manchester. Va, May %, 1876.
TO Whom IL May Concern:
This IS TO certify that some time
ago | went for DR.. w. III. Harbaugh. the
| veterinary surgeon. 10 come and see my
| SICK cow. Dr. Harbaugh said TO me. "Old
| man. YOU know just as much about a
COW as / do. am no COW doctor. l am a
| horse doctor.
| CORNELIUS PURKS."
| IL would be poor taste in me to cham
| pion my own learning, even when decent
attacks are made on me; but much less
4 Ill
parently through ll-will, as would seem
| TO be this one from DR.. Harbaugh. 1t