Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-12-19
TUBERCULOSIS AGAIN.
Eleven Cows Out of1s Killed After a
Test Unsatisfactory to the Owner

| Eleven Cows Out of1S Killed After {
Test Unsatisfactory to the Owner.
There is a revival Of interest locally in
the subject of bovine tuberculosis, due tc
the test of r. A. Smiths herd and the
condemnation of II out of IS cows tested
| Mr.. Smith owns the Irwin Lamson farm
and stock and conducts large milk route
in this village.
Not long ago, Mr.. Smith suspected that
one of the cows, purchased year ago last
| summer, was wrong. He called DR.. A. b.
| Gay Of this place, who formerly did con-
siderable testing for the State Board OF
Agriculture. He tested the COW in ques-
tion and said she had tuberculosis. After
| thinking the matter over, Mr.. Smith de-
| cided to have the whole herd tested. He
communicated with Q. j. Bell, secretary
of the Board, who sent DIR. Stevens Of
White River Junction to make the test
two weeks ago today. Mr.. Smith had
been having quite a time with his COWS
just before the veterinary arrived getting
them into their stable by a new passage
way and says they were in a highly ex-
cited condition. He explained this to DIR.
Stevens, who said that the test could pro-
coed just the same. This test showed that
10 of the is COWS were affected. The num-
Der condemned did not include the COW
previously tested by DIR. Gay and DIR.
Stevens said she was all right. After his
departure, Mr.. Smith called DIR. Gay again
to test a new COW that he had bought and
on being told the result of the other test
DIR. Gay again tested the same COW that
he had before tested and again pronounced
her diseased.
Mr.. Bell was here Saturday and the con-
demned cows were appraised at $40 head,
which, though the legal limit, was less
than Mr. Smith had paid for most of
them. The same day the ten were killed
in the presence of DIR. Stevens. None of
them were badly diseased, though some
showed the presence of tuberculosis UNI
mistakably. Others required a most
minute examination to find anything re-
sembling it, and then nothing larger than
pin head.
DR.. Gay was present and was so firmly
convinced that he was right about the
first COW tested that he offered to pay for
half OF the COW If she were killed and
tuberculosis not found. On these terms
Mr.. Smith decided to have her killed
which was done Immediately and she was
found badly diseased-the worst one of
the lot. DR.. Stevens appeared rather
crestfallen at this.
Mr.. Smiths herd was tested four years
ago and pronounced clear. Since then he
has been very careful and added no COWS
that were not represented to him as hay-
ing been tested. His theory is that the
COW detected by Mr.. Gay was the means of
injecting the others. Mr.. Smith had
very handsome herd that all know are
closely watched and attended. They are
not fed cottonseed meal OF other supposed
high feeds. He is trying to replace the
ones lost by sound cows. He finds it very
hard to buy cows that the owners win
warrant test-proof
Mr.. Smith, as might be expected, Is not
wholly satisfied with the result. He
thinks il strange that the official veteri-
nary should leave the very COW that was
worst of all. He believes the method Of
testing is itself dangerous The hypoder
mic syringe with which the tubereulin is
injected is taken from one COW to another |
without cleaning and if there is anything
to the theory of infection he does not see
why this is not first-class way to spread |
the disease. Then he does not see why it |
is not an entirely safe way to protect the |
public health il the COW products are
themselves analysed. Unless they contain |
germs, there can be no danger to the indi-
yidual He does not believe it necessary |
to kill cows to determine whether they are |
a menace or not. Without doubt, Mr.. |
Smiths views coincide with those of many |
Of our farmers.
It is expected that one or more other |
herds in town viii be tested by the State |
Board today.
The report OF the Board Just issued |
shows that 1880 cattle were tested in |
Vermont last year, of which 974 were con- |
iemned. For these the state paid lone
half value) S14,409.S3; members of the |
received 2, 227.3 veterinaries, /
3, $3.50. Total expense of the commits |
sion, S20,5S6. Since the law went into |
effect in 1891, 1860 cattle have been tested |
IN Randolph, of which 236 were killed. In
other towns nearby the following have |
been tested and killed, respectively :-Rox-
bury, 306, /; Brookfield, 1893, 40; Brain
rec, 1927, 81; Chelsea, SO; Tunbridge, 125,
/; Bethel, 474, "a; Royalton, POS, s. Barn
lrd, 100, 81 Sharon, Il, 1; Stookbridge, IS;
50; Granville, 81.