The San Francisco call., 1897-06-25
CRUS ADE Upon
DISEASED COWS
Board of Health Begins
Wholesale TubercuIin
Tests.
Inspector Dockery and Vet
erinary O'ROurke in Charge
Of the Work.
Dairymen Passively Submit, but There
Are Rumors of a Fight in
the Courts.

The long-promised campaign of the
Board of Health against the dairymen to
compel them to destroy tuberculous cattle
began yesterday. Contrary to expecta-
tions the beginning was without incident
or excitement. The health officers ex-
pected q vigorous opposition from the
dairymen, and thus far have Eeen dis
appointed, although of course only the
preliminary has yet been carried.
The first move is. of course, to try the
tubereuin test, and the dairy of George
C.. Smart opposite the House of Correc-
tion, was selected as q starting point.
Armed with the power of the Board of
Health, Milk Inspector Dockery put in
his appearance at Smarts place at 6
o'clock in the morning and declared his
intention of testing the herd. Dockery
had along with him Veterinary Surgeon
O'Rourke, City Physician OBrien (actlng
IN the capacity of City Health Otficer),
Meat Inspector Ben Davis and Deputy
Inspectors Hanlon and Harrigan.
II was an imposing attacking party. and
the cattle took fright at it and threatened
10 stampede.
DaiIyman Smart did not exactly like
his visitors. He protested against the
action of the board at first; but Dockery
was immovable and persistent. A spirited
argument ensueG, In which the honors
were carried of by the milk inspector and
in the end Smart withdrew his objections
with good grace.
Dockery then lined up his ranks and
bade them make camp tor a long siege,
for, of course, cows health cannot be
diagnosed IN less than day, and, more
over, the veterinary and his assistants
must remain close to their patient while
the test is being conducted, to observe
nf
any.
There are $50 cattle in the Smart herd.
and it will probably take two weeks to
ascertain the condition of the whole
number. During this time DR.. O'Rourke
and his assistants will remain on the
ranch.
Tne first step will be to ascertain the
norm al temperatures of each beast This
work was begun yesterday morning and
will take three days. Tuberculin fmd
will then be injected. The test of the
presence of the disease is an abormal in
crease in tenn mperatuTe. The COWS that
fall below the standard are to be
slaughtered according to the Board OF
Health, but it said that when this point
in the programme arrives the dairymen
are likely to make vigorous objection and
resort TO the courts.
DR.. Williamson, president of the Board
of Health, said last night shat he antici-
pated no serious objection from the cattle
men. Those who refused to allow the
test, he declared, would find that quar-
antine would be Issued against their milk
coming into the City.
The following notice was mailed to all
dairymen In the County yesterday:
Notice to dairymen and others engaged in
breeding, mainta aiming, buying and selling
cattle in the City and County of San Fran
eisco.-The Health Department of the CITY and
County of San Francisco hereby gives notice
OF It's intention to commence without delay
series of tuberculin tests for the purpose of de-
term1ntng to what extent tuberculosis is ex-
istent in the dairy herds maintained in the
City and County of San Francisco.
All persons are hereby warned not to inter.
fere in any manner whatever with the work of
the officials OF this department in the applica-
ton of said Iubercuin tests. No tests with
tuberculin Will be recognized in any manner
whatever by the Health Depar tment except-
ing those made under authorize tion of the de.
partment by duly accredited officers thereof
After the date OF publication of this notice
any person or persons other than regularly &C.
credited officers OF this department. applyin q
or attempting to apply to cattle in the City
and County OF San Francisco the tuberculin
test shall be considered as interfering with the
work OF this department and will be subject ed
TO arrest and prosecution.
In all it is estimated it will take months
to complete the work, as there are thou
sands of cattle in the southern portion OF
the County.