The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-03-29
AGRICULTURAL.
tuberculosis in Europe.

discusses 'lne PRESENT COnulIlOn OF
Bovine Tuberculosis in Europe" As
Vermont farmers are intensely inter-
ested in this subject, we lay before our
readers the results of this investiga-
ton. In the first place we can say TO
the farmers of Vermont, Take cour-
age There is probably not a state in
the Union which has dealt so promptly,
efficiently and wisely with this terrible
disease as has Vermont. Look at the
state of things in northern Europe.
Says Prof Conn 1--WE find that the ex-
tent of bovine tuberculosis in Europe is
far greater than has been thought un-
I'll within short time, and that, APP
pOrently, judging from the data at
hand, it is increasing with startling ra-
pidity." Farther or he says:
'It is found that the amount OF tubercu-
losis in southern countries is decidedly less
than in northern countries; that it is very
much less in countries where the cattle are
allowed to roam the fields during large
amount OF the time than it is in countries
where they are kept housed for the most
of the year; that where cattle are kept con-
stantly housed with no opportunity of out
door air it is exceptionally common 1t is
found that within certain limits the amount
of the disease is apparently greatest among
cattle that are given the best care; that is,
that are kept in the warmest stables and
kept from exposure to the colder air OF
winter. 1t is, therefore, rather more COM
mou among high. bred cattle than among
common cattle, since the former receive the
greater care. All OF these facts are ex-
tremely significant to the farmer in his at
tempt to handle the subject. The amount
Of tuberculosis in the herds of southern
Europe is apparently small, though the ex-
act per cent. cannot be given, since there
are no reliable Statistics but as we come 10
the northern countries the amount becomes
greater, and finally, upon reaching North
ern Germany, Denmark, etc, the amount
reaches 80 per cent, and perhaps even more
1t is admitted in Denmark that probably
half OF the animals are suffering from tuber-
culosis. When we make a comparison of
the slaughter house records from year to
year in order to determine whether the dis
ease has been increasing in the last ten
years, it is found that the increase as shown
by such records is startling. In Leipsic,
where the best records have been kept, the
number of condemned cattle increased from
IL per cent. in 1889 to SO per cent. in 1895,
and in the most recent records of the
slaughter houses in Kiel, city of North
Germany, it has actually been found that
80 per cent. of the cows slaughtered during
1907 WI N barpulOua OF tha nattla which
were imported into Kiel from Denmark
during 1897 no less than GO per cent were
ound to be tuberculous. The significance
OF these great numbers is clear in spite of
any criticism OF the methods by which the
data were obtained. 1t can mean nothing
else than that the amount of tuberculosis
is very rapidly on the increase in Europe
The seriousness of the problem is recogpiz-
ed all through the agricultural communi
ties Farmers and scientists are greatly
alarmed and are asking themselves whether
the dairy industry is doomed. Under the
stress OF these conditions very active meas
ures are being taken to check and if pos
sible eradicate the disease"
Now look at Vermont's experience in
the light of these statements. Where the
disease is permitted to 60 on unhinder-
ed, it must eventually destroy the dairy
industry. And those northern States
which are doing nothing to stop its
spread, must sooner or later awake to
the fact that either their herds must be
ruined or they must take active and
energetic steps to combat the plague.
The course which Vermont has taken
in dealing with the disease places it
very far in advance of every other
state in the condition of its dairy indus
try. And let us not fail to give proper
credit to the men who have, in the face
of intense opposition, carried out the
measures which are so essential to the
well being of Vermont's great industry
All the disease asks is to be let alone,
and this is just what most States are do
ing, and thus give it time to spread and
infect multitudes Of cattle In Yer
mont just the right course has proba-
bly,, for the most part, been taken.
1niallibilty for the cattle commission
ers is not claimed. They have simply
done the wisest thing, have really build
ed better than they or anyone else
knew. The time will come, and is fast
coming, when, if the State adheres TO
its former policy, Vermont will be
known as the one State which has dealt
n the right way with the plague, and
Vermont cattle will command higher
price on account of their known free
dom from tuberculosis.
Prof. Conn discusses the eradication of
the disease, taking up the question of it's
transmission ~ From animal to animal,
under which head well known facts are
cited. (2) Transmission from man to
animals. This is very important matter
for if the disease is easily transmissable
from man to animals, it will be impossi.