Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-06
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Mr.. Hisoee Discusses the Latest Phase
ofthe Tuberculosis Question.
TO the Editor of the Free Press:

According to a Berlin despatch of Oc-
tober q. The sensation of Saturday. ses-
sion of the International tuberculosis
Congress came toward the end of the
sitting in the form of a paper by Prof.
Koch in which he maintained his former
position regarding the conference.-the
~ Of animal tuberculosis to man" The
Professor is reported as asking: How is
ii that no general infection follows the
eating of tubercular meat or the drinking
of milk from tuberculosis cows?'
This is precisely the matter in issue. 1t
is maintained that the present cattle com
mission or no other commission, should
engage in a wholesale slaughter of cattle
so long as 1t remains an unsettled ques-
ton as to the LANCER from using meat
or milk. The cattle commission have as
sumed as unquestoned what Prof. Koch
for the second time, denies-who should
have the benefit of the d~ouot-the cattle
commission or the leading industry of
the State?
The farmers are willing to cooperate
in the interest of the public's health, but
they insist that something more than a
rise in temperature shall condemn their
herds to the slaughter pen.
Grant that the cattle comm .ssion were
sincere in their opinions, does this prove
that the farmers can stand the pace set
for them in C~hittendcn county last
spring? Does it prove that the State
can stand such a drain not only upon its
treasury. but upon its producing re-
sources?
stamping Out tuberculosis if it is ever
done, must be attempted on a business
basis. and done in u business like way.
The commissioners tell US We must take
no backward step. II is me forward
step that concerns the dairy men OF Yer
mont the most.
Are the markets of New York or Bos-
ton worrying about Vermont butter. made
from the milk Of Vermont cows OUe Of
the creameries in this town, doing d bust
ness of between s4O, 900 and $4,000 a year,
finds its supply smaller than the constant
demand. The question has never been
asked il our cows have been tested. L
don't suppose Boston consumers ever
think of it.
Let US be fair in discussing this great
economic question. In referring to the
killing and ~quarantining of cattle too
many writer's and speakers compare the
work of the cattle commission with that
OF health officers in care of smallpox. dip
liberia, typhoid fever. This is not fair, the
physician can be absolutely positive Of
his diagnosis OF the diseases, and Nobody
disputes their danger. Everybody calls
for the greatest prscaution. They are
pronounced scourges. The State has an
undisputed right to quarantine against
them, even at financial loss and incon-
yenience to the Individual.
Shall the property Of the dairymen Of
Vermont be included in the category,
when no one has shown hat tuberculous
cows, If they do exist, have caused i'll
health or death TO hardly a single citizen.
Shal the property of the dairymen or
Vermont be SO included and so treated,
when Prof. Koch the leading scientist Of
his day. and multitudes of others, deny
the communicab ility Of bovine tubercu-
losis to the human family? Snail all this
he done before the cow iS shown TO D3
guilty? Let us try to be fair in this dis
Cussion.
". w HIGBEE.
Charlotte, Vt, October -, 1907,