The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-07

J. NV L II
had consulted legal authorities VINO IN
formed him that the regulations of the
Portland Board of Health are illegal
| The president asked what 1nStfuctlOns
the meeting would give in regard to this
| matter
| Mr.. Hammonds motion to keep on
selling milk to the city as heretofore was
| then passed. ~
| President Merrill said that the plan
proposed by the gentlemen who had calico
the meeting was to have the directors
! meet the Portland Board .of Health and
explain the position of the farmers, tell,
ing why the owners of the cattle could
not submit to the regulations. Then II
the board would do nothing. legal steps
could be taken. If necessary, the milk
supply of the city could be stopped, as a
last resort. The president believed that
the law was on the side OF the farmers.
Mr.. Herrick of Cumberland then
branched out into the general SUBJECT OF
the tuberculin test again. He didn't be-
lieve in it and referred to the poison at
six cents quart, saying 1--WE
know why men make quotations. They
do it to support their arguments. Ii this
man thinks he finds tuberculosis in a
COW, he has got to support his reputation.
He thinks he has reputation-I dom
say what think. The way to get at
this matter is to have the milk analysed
and by competent chemist-not by a
horse doctor.
Mr.. Harry Jordan of New Gloucester
was called upon to tell his experience
with tuberculin. The upshot of Mr..
Jordan's opinion was that he thought
the test injured his animals, causing two
COWS to lose calves and decreasing ma
4 +n,,i a11 ry f1,n arI3 ~f
had cost him $50 to bring this about.
Mr.. Simeon Tracey of Deering next adj
dressed the gathering nearly all of whom
were standing by this time. Mr.. Tracey
made vigorous plea for united action by
the farmers and milk men and was loudly
applauded especially when he wanted to
know how far the
JURISDICTION OF THE PORTLAND
BOARD
of Health extended
Mr.. J. P. Buckley, a milk producer
and dealer in this city, said he had his
cows examined and they weren' hurt by
st. Mr.. Buckley was asked if he proposed
to act with the union and said that he
wanted to know first what they were GO
ing to do. Mr.. Buckley came into the
free-for-an discussion SO frequently tina
somebody asked in what capacity he APP
peared. He said as one of the milkmer
who had been given an opportunity to be
heard. It was then long after dinner
time and the chair told Mr.. Buckley that
he had already been heard.
Mr.. E. M. Greeley was introduced as
a veteran Portland milkman and coun-
seled an attempt to secure modification
of the regulations by conference with the
board of health.
Mr.. j. H. Conneen also a Portland
milkman addressed the gathering The
discussion had now located itself on the
relations of the farmers to the milkmen.
Mr.. Conneen pertinently remarked that
if the agitation over this question lost
customers to the milkmen, it would also
be the cause of loss of trade to the far
mers.
There was good deal more of the dis
cussion many talking at the same time
One gentlemen suggested that as they had
lost the noon trains they should remain
in the hall during..the afternoon and con-
tinue to talk matters over Finally when
the hand of the clock had passed half
after one, the meeting adjourned leaving
the matter in the hands of the executive
committee as stated above.
Mr.. j. H. Murch of White Rock showed
to many of those present the following
letter in reference to
THE BLUE HILL CASE.
Blue Hill, Me-, June 3, 1897.
Mr.. c. H. Murch, White Rock, Me-:
Dear sir-Postmaster Darling has re-
quested me to answer your letter in re-
gard to an alleged case of tuberculosis in
this town. Being the family physician of
eight years, / can say something about it,
We have had severe epidemic Of measles
in this vicinity and these seven children
contracted the disease. Later as they were
we'll or nearly SO from the disease (sOme
being about the house and outdoors) six
of them, one after the other developed
what diagnosed as catarrhal pneumonia
or capillary bronchitis. This as you
may know is a trouble often following
measles as it has here in Dozen or more
cases, a very fatal trouble as it involves
both lungs usually and runs longer and
takes a more irregular course than ordi-
nary pneumonia. Two died under nv
care. DIR. ManningH of Ellsworth, one of
the leading physicians of the country
agreed with me in the diagnosis. DR..
Emery of Surry then took charge of the
cases and the milk coming under sus-
picion, Veterinary West of Ellsworth
diagnosed tuberculosis and killed the
COW. The COW had hurt her udder in
a wire fence some time before and had
at times given bloody milk. This fact
has come out since my connection with
the case. For eight years this has been
a healthy, tough, wiry family; never
heard one cough until they had measles.
The house is small-four rooms-and you
can imagine the confusion and lack of
good surroundings which donot help people
get well. Those three which have died were
very sick from the the first Those which
are getting better l never had and doubt
but they would. This COW may have had
tuberculosis but many of us doubt it. The
lungs were not examined am told. She
was simply knocked down and buried.
These are the facts, nearly as 1 can give
them to you. How could this family have
kept well using this diseased milk SO
long? Is it possible the little girl who
escaped the fever never drank any milk
all this time 1 believe she did but can't
say of course. Why did this poison wait
until they were recovering from measles
until it showed itself? have never heard
of a, case of tuberculosis in this vicinity
before. l send you a clipping which pre-
sents the other side. / was not aware of
d. Bailey's visit. Don't think he was
here. Possibly as the supply of veterin-
airy surgeons increases we may find cases
of tuberculosis more common.
Yours truly,
o. LITTLEFIELD.