The Portland daily press., 1897-06-16

/
whom think the tuberculin test is not in :
fallible, and some who think it does in
jury to the COW. The opinions of authori-
ties who regard the test as practically in
| Ialllple, lar more numerous and of higher
standing, are completely ignored Far
stronger testimony against vaccination
for small pox can be adduced than they
give against tuberculin. We can easily
cite many able authorities in condemna-
tlon OF vaccination on the ground that it
IS a frequent means Of communicating
loathsome and dangerous disease to the
human subject. Suppose the State Board
OF Health should marshal these opinions,
emitting those on the other side, and ad-
wise everybody to resist vaccination ''to
the bitter end' would not everybody say
that 1t was guilty of unfairness and usur-
patton?
The farmers of Cumberland county are
amply able to take care of themselves.
! They need no advice or exhortation to
resist to the bitter end'' from the State
Board of Agriculture, and we doubt if
they will feel particularly fiattered by the
assumption that seems to run through
Mr.. McKeen' s proclamation that they are
IN need of instruction from the Board of
Agriculture. They have employed able
counsel who is amply competent to pro-
tcet their rights without the assistance of
Mr.. McKeen. There was time perhaps
when they would have appreciated some
discussion of this subject by the Board of
Agriculture-some light upon it-but
they know now as much and probably more
about it than the board. Why this board
should inject itself into controversy as
to what regulations are proper in regard
to the sale of milk in the City of Port
land, which it is purely the province of
the Board of Health, the milkmen, and
the courts to settle, we cannot imagine
unless it be that it occasionally finds it
necessary to let the people know of it's
existence and Of its vast Importance to
farmers.
Lest people may get the idea from Mr.
McKeen's citation of authorities that the
weight of evidence is against the efficacy
and harmlessness of the tuberculin test
we append some opinions on the other
side.
First we cite DR.. Twitchell, lecturer of
the State Board of Agriculture, who used
this language in an address to that
Board:
z have noticed decided change of senti-
ment, in Massachusetts especially, upon
the question of tuberculin and its use.
WON fhn,,c i've
opposition there is today feeling of sym
pathy and a desire for its use. I have in
mind a number of dairymen, milk pro-
ducers as well as buttermakers, who have
sought the use of tuberculin as business
investment, and l have been forced to the
conclusion, as l have talked with them
and learned the results obtained by them
and by others interested in that question,
that that is something that must claim
our attention in the State of Maine in
the near future. Today it is impossible
for us to sell a creature outside of the
state unless it stands the test. / think
Brother Briggs and other breeders have
had calls for cattle, and in every case that
l know of the statement was made, 'sWe
cannot accept your animal unless it has
been tested, = showing that not only in
conformity to the law but in conformity
to public opinion the farmers of other
states are beginning to put an estimate
me that this Board might urge upon the
farmers larger measure of confidence
| IN the use OF tuberculin as a means of
| protection, also as q business investment
The young animal which stands the test
is stamped on the market as an animal of
merit; we have given it the best seal that
| we possibly can. And vet in urging this
we call for large increase of labor and
| expenditure of money ] know of breed
ers in this state who for their own protec-
| ton at their own expense have had their
animals tested; and / think the time will
come when through an appropriation
sufficient for the purpose our milk pro-
ducers will feel to call upon our cattle
| commissioners for the use of this test and
will accept its results as conclusive.
Next we cite DR.. f L. Russell, veter-
marian at the Maine State College of
Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts:
There are two practical reasons why
every effort should be made to suppress
| bovine tuberculosis. First, 1t should be
done to protect healthy cattle that are
continually being exposed and second, it
| should be done to save the many thous-
and human lives that are yearly sacrificed
to consumption contracted and fostered
| by milk, meat, ETC., from tuberculous
cattle. 1t is certainly time that either of
these reasons offers grounds sufficient to
|
seem to some to be extreme measures to
suppress this terrible scourge. If it could
be shown that as state we are entirely
| free from bovine tuberculosis and
sufficient means were being used to pre-
serve that freedom, it would create such
demand for our dairy stock as would
compensate us for all the expense involved
and we would not be subject in any such
measure to the continual losses that we
now have to meet from this cause.
| If any of our breeders have an ambition
to improve their stock and go out to pur-
chase animals to this end, they stand
about an even chance of running their
herd and business by introducing tuber-
culosis with the improved blood. Many
instances of this sort might be mentioned
as having occurred in this state, and it is
safe to say many more will occur unless
measures are taken to prevent it. Many
of our most progressive dairymen and
stock breeders have run against this snag
| in their business, and have either been
obliged to dispose of their stock at loss
to themselves or to those who purchased
| it, or to continue breeding from diseased
| stock-a course which deserves to be con-
demned from every standpoint of policy