The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-23

Special precautions are being adopted
by the experts of the Bureau Of Animal
Industry of the Agricultural Department
to guard against tuberculosis in the meat
consumed throughout the country. Since
the discovery of the diagLostic value of
| tuberculin in bovine tuberculosis in 1891
many official tests have been made in the
United States TO ascertain the extent TO
which the disease exists and to diminish
the number of affected animals. While
numerous herds have been found diseased
! in remarkable and even alarming 6e-
gree the consensus of opinion is that,
| considering all the cattle in a single
State, not over per cent Of the animals
would react to the test even in our dairy
sections, and not half of 1 per cent of the
cattle killed under the bureau inspection
IS found tuberculous. In certain districts,
however, the disease is much more fire.
quent, and the astonishing degree to
winch Il may develop in a herd before its
presence is discovered by the owner,
much less by others, has led TO a de-
mahd Tor Investigation and for repreS-
sIye measures
considerable number OF States have
laws and regulations for the purpose Of
preventing the introduction OF tubercU-
lOus cattle from other States or foreign
countries While these differ much in
detail, the general plan is to require that
/ cattle introduced for breeding or dairy
purposes be tested with tubercUlin and
| their healthfUlneSs certified by the au-
| thCriJieS Of the States from which they
originate or, failing this, By the authori-
| ties of the State where they are destined
10 remain. The weak points in this sys-
TEN. as pointed out by the experts Of the
Agricultural Department, are. first that
many states from which cattle are ship
ped have no officials to make the tests and
/ none with authority to issue certificates;
second, that very few of the receiving
States have sufficient veterinary force 10
/ make the required tests; and, third. that
The numerous and varied requirements OF
the several States are confusing TO ship
pers. difficult 10 comply with. and seri-
Gus burden to Interstate commerce The
situation is not unlike that which existed
fifteen years ago, when nearly every Safe
+! had a quarantine against the cattle of
every other State to guard against the IN
PRODUCTION Of contagious pleuro- pneumo-
MIA
The Bureau of Animal Industry OF the
Agricultural Department is now endeavor-
ing 10 assist the Individual States in
guarding against infection from other
States aud from foreign countries, as con-
/ templated by its organic act Notice has
been issued that It IS a violation of the
Federal statutes TO ship animals affected
with tuberculosis from one State TO an
other Cattle imported from Canada for
breeding or dairy purposes are required to
be accompanied IL a certificate Of health
fulness shown by a tubercuIin test made by
|, an official veterinary surgeon, while those
from other countries which pass through
the quarantine stations are tested during
the period Of detention. The certificates of
tests made in the country OF origin have
frequently been unsa tisfactory. and il is
contemplated 10 make Immediate arrange
meats to have imported cattle testes by
officials Of this Government
The effort &c control tuberculosis.
says Secretary Wilson, is most reas-
enable and proper one. and. if conserva-
lively directed. should receive the sup
port OF every friend of the cattle indus
try Not only is tuberculosis one Of the
worst scourges Of the bovine race, at
tacking as high as 50 per cent OF the an
finals in individual herds. but its exist
ence is believed by the best sanitary au-
thoTities TO be a serious menace to the
health OF the consumers of meat and
dairy products II is therefore, a dis
ease to be dreaded, not only because OF
the value OF the cattle which il INJURIES or
destroys. but because II threatens man
kind with an fncUrabIe and fatal infec-
ton. The individual States, therefore,
have good reason for desiring 20 stop the
Importation Of the tuberculosis conta-
giOn, and fer adopting measures intend
ed 20 lessen or control the disease with
in their own territory"