Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-06
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY.
Various Ideas and Suggestions Regard
ing Bovine Tuberculosis and
Its Remedy.
(From the vergennes Enterprise.)

li'I'' dCtl'l III It6dIu W iilt tdttlc toih-
mission and the spread of tuberculosis or
consumption.
II is beyond dispute that the disease Is
on the increase In Vermont. Look about
you In any community and recall the
deaths OF the past year and the percentage
that may he traced to tuberculosis Is
something startling. And when we re-
member that the germs of the disease are
readily inherited by children from their
parents. the possibilities of the future are
appalling.
The State was alive to these facts when
the cattle commission was given its pres
ent arbitrary and drastic powers. The de-
sign was correct, but certain radical de-
feats IN detail. coupled, undoubtedly. with
a lack of diplomacy and good judgment,
have caused a popular revolt among cat
tie owners that may result in serious err
rors in the opposite extreme.
1t Is something of a mooted question as
to whether the germs OF tuberculosis in
cattle may be transmitted to mankind
through the media of milk, butter or beef.
The opinion of Professor Koch, the noted
expert, is that they may not. In opposi-
ton to him VIC have the opinions of near
ly every physician and veterinary In Yer
mont, men On the ground, who know local
conditions, who have studied the develop
ment of local cases. and who can point to
chains of evidence sufficiently conclusive.
They say a tuberculous COW is a danger to
tNP NDolG community ana recommend inc
slaughter Of all cattle that respond to
what they call the tubcrculin test. In
fact. the Koch theories have been dis
proved by eminent scientists, who have
inoculdted patients with bovine tuberculo-
sis and have developed genuine consun,p-
ton thereby, which has proved fatal.
This paper has already taken a stand
on this question. Long before the Legis-
lature convened. We recommended laws
that would uphold the slaughter of dis
eased cattle, paying, however. the full
value of the same tC the owner. We re-
peat the recommendation. But now we
go further. We recommend that the
health board be empowered to instruct
local health officers to have the same
supervision over consumption as they
now have over other contagious diseases.
That a measure of isolation be enforced
In cases of consumption and that rigid
provisions be made to destroy the germs
which appear in the mucus brought up by
tuberCulous patients. Strict sanitary sup
erVision over cases of human tuberculosis
Is as necessary as over cattle herds. We
conceive We are not in error when we
state that consumption is exceedingly
CONTAGIOUS and should come under the
supervision Of local health officers.
Operators of cooperative dairies might
also aid the efforts of the commission by
requiring the periodical test of herds that
furnish milk and the dairymen's assoCia-
ton could adopt a tested herds" label
that would be a guarantee of sanitary
butter. In a matter so directly affecting
health and property, a full cooperation
ought to hc assured.
SO We may perhaps summarize the whole
question by saying that the present laws
upon tuberculosis, amended to include full
pa yment for diseased cattle and a system
of regular examinations by direct COM
missioners. ought to be supplemented by
laws giving to the health board and
health officers powers to supervise and
regulate cases of human tuberculosis.
SOURCES OF NERMONTS GROWTH.
(Trom the Brattleboro Reformer.)
The nonsence about the devastation of
crops by the great herds of deer which are
roaming the hills of Vermont. should be
treated as such nonsense deserves. There
Is not 4 word of truth in it. If Vermont
is ever to see prosperity she must make
up her mind to take advantage of such
resources as nature has provided. The
fisherman. the hunter and the summer
hoarder are the people for us to look to
for prosperity.
REPRESENTATIVE OF ORGANIZED
LABOR.
(F'rom the Middlebury Register.)
Rutland city has had many able an1
useful renresent1tiVes in the House, but
none that were more popular with all the
' nember than Mr.. Lawrence. He is a
young man and the special representative
3, of the lahorinG men, and he IS a mighty
good representative Of organized labor.
THE PROHIBITORY PRINCIPLE
Trom the Morrisville Mcsseueer)
The Messenger discluims any Inference
= that the Herald made use of agency aver
ages in I.amoille county for the purpose
a F- a.,