The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-11

j. f. salmon. Chief OF the Bureau Of
Animal Industry 8t tho Department IF
Agriculture. recently issued publication
entitled The Tuherculiu Test of imported
Cattle" I'm which D., sets forth reasons
for requiring that such test shall De- APP
piled TO all cattle over six months old
imported into this country. ANA dweUs
ON the importance Of this m,a-ura ass
means for protecting the Interests of the
farmers. The tubercuiiu test which is iu
the nature of a restriction On the i'm
portation Of cattle, has been On, subject
az more or less unfayorabIp cumIotut ou
the part OF importers and their friends.
and efforts have been made TO secure its
abandonment Dr. Salmou-s uhamphIot
is largely i'm the nature Of defence Of
the statutes and r,g+lQ tons requiring the
test
DR. Salmon. in telling OF The necessity
Of guarding against disease. says:
The necessity Of guarding our food
producing animals from the ravaSes Of
contagious diseases has been recognized
10y Congress at various times. but princi-
paliy in the enactment of the STATUTE, for
the establishment Of the Bureau Of Ami
NAL Industry ana prohibiting The impor-
tauou of any animals affected with dis
i
of this country The farmers Of the
United States are especially fortunate in
having "a larger Investment in Farm ami
mails than can De found in any either conn
Try and I'm the fact that these animals
are, on the whole, remarkably free from
ClS'aSe-. Several n the most disastrous
plaques of the ola World. such AS FINDER
pest. foot-and-mouth disease. and sheep
poN. have Lot gained a Judgment IN our
territory. while most other forms Of cor
taElon are either comparatively lare or
under control
I'm 1854 when the Bureau Of Animal In
dustry was established, our cattle indus
try was meuaced 10y the existence Of con-
taEIous pieuro-pneumoIia I'm several
States That danger was completely re-
moved by The prompt and thorough meas
ures which resulted in the ComuIete Grad
lcation OF the Coutagiou This. however
was not accomplished without much bit
ter opposition and the most determined
though misguided efforts to emuarrass
inc work aad prevent its success. The
wisdom az the policy of eradication has
since been amply established. not only
by stopping the losses from th, disease
but much more by the freedom from nam
les. Guara Htiles. and other restrictions or,
account Of il and the improved rsp,ta ion
81 our exports of cattle and meats which
followed
AZ the present time the people OF
nearly every stock-raisiug- country arc
alarmed over the prevalence of ruEercu-
lusls among their cattle Tho ffsla.sa Is
recognized as the most WidCsurraE most
lusialoIS. and most disastrous of any of
the disease affecting cattle IT is "a strict
y contagious disease which NAV sursaJ
20 nearly every animal in q herd and not
70 ealue only, but 10 swine and most
other species Of animals. The weight of
meuleal authority fdyOrs the conclusion
mat II may be communicated from ami
mails 10 man with fatal results The
BRUSH congress on tuberculosis held.
notwithstanding DR. kOchs view TO the
contrary. that in the opinion OF this
congress medical health officers should
use The powers al their disposal and relax
no enort 10 prevent the spread Of tubcr-
Culosis by milk and meat This being the
case and there being in existence a law
prohibiting the importation Of diseased or
exposed animals, there Is every reason
why TINS law should De applied 20 tuber-
cuicsis as well as 10 other communicable
diseases.
There are other reasons at this time
why the spread OF tuberculosis should be
controlled 50 far as possible Some Of the
States and various municipalities are
making JubercUhu tests and slaughter
lAE lne cattle EElCn they LLC diseased
This causes considerable loss. iEcUuveui-
ence. and hardship. which fan principally
upon farmers The farmers FOR the most
inuoccltiy through the purchase Of breed
ing animals for the Improvement Of their
stock The class Of breeding animals
which was being imported previous To the
requirement Of p tubCrCulin test was very
dangerous. nearly Ouc-haIf of some lots
having been found diseased The diseased
ANIMALS In NOSE cases were in good con-
diuou Of flesh, appeared healthy, and
would deceive anyone unless a tub.rCuliu
tes. were made When We have such
test remarkable for its accuracy and re-
liability there is no good reason why
spectators should be- allowed 90 bring I'D
tn 60 diseased cattle. which are not want
Cd in other countries. and scatter them
among he breeding herds and diaries Of
The United States TO communicate dis
ease and sooner OF later TO bring about
tho destruction Of the herd with the
heavy loss which 10 entails.
Common honesty should lead those
who sell breeding stock to- our farmers
sure the health -uluoSs of the stock which
they deliver. hut what should be said Of
the persons who knowingly import and
sell cattle affected with cOmmlU.ca-
bic disease like tuberculosis which may
not only destroy their patrons herd. but
possibly Infect some member % his fam
ily as well2 The farmers OF the United
states are entitled 20 protection from
such dangers and wherever laws exist
for this purpusa they should be enforced
rigidiy and impartaIly.
Moreover, many OF the countries Of
Tho world are now adopting measures for
EEqpreSSlng Tuberculosis among their ma
tive animals and for excluding tubprcUl1us
animals from their territory The United
States has already great export trade
IN animals and animal products. and our
people are eudeavOriLE TO increase this
trade by adding tp lt the sale Of pure
bro cattle for improving the herds 81
South America. Mexico. and perhaps Of
South AiHc"- III the proportion Of ami
mails affected with tuberculosis In our
exported cattle should AZ any time pc
found 20 be increasing We must look for
further restrictions and prohibitions mp
H.#. o. ID lima |.. .r.H