Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-10
TUBERCULOSIS LAWS
Health Officers Declare They
Should Not Be Relaxed.
Relation Of Animal Diseases to Man
Discussed at Length-Importanc
LOT Good Plumbing Urged-vsr.
mont's Water Supplies.

festerudy at inc morning SESSION Oh tHe
health officers school DR.. r. r. stiles OF
st. Johnsbury presided. The opening paper
was read by w. r. 3. Wilcox Of this city
on Plumbing" Mr.. Wilcox said that
people are becoming careless about paying
proper attention to defects In their plumb
ing systems. Vigilance Is the only rom
cdy for the evils which result from these
defects and we should keep a close look
out for leaks which may be caused by the
careless use Of fixture. the failure to
clean a trap. the settling Of a building and
many other reasons. Plumbing has reach
ed such high state OF perfection that We
are liable to be overconfident but accidents
are all the time occurring and our vigil
ance should not be relaxed.
AS a general rule one should not be look
ing for trouble but this Is a case where
the rule does not hold good. Mr.. Wilcox
recommended new public officer In an
inspector OF plumbing. whose work should
be to prepare plans for new work and in
pect closely the plumbing within his terri
tory. This officer should be subject to the
orders of the health department. Many
cities have already made such provision
and Vermont should not be backward in
this new work The public Is Inconsistent
In this matter and seems inclined to leave
It in the hands of the street department.
but the trouble lies in the source of supply
and when this is remedied there will be
no further trouble in the larger mains.
The health board should agitate this ques-
ton and try and bring about the creation
of such an officer who would not only be
a public servant but public benefactor.
Tho paper was discussed at length by IL.
B. Moore Of Rutland, DR.. John d. Blodgett
Of Saxton's River and DR.. ]. T. Ridden OF
Bellows Falls. after which the usual gen.
eral discussion followed.
The next paper was read by G. =. Moat,
chemist in the Laboratory Of Hygiene. on
Water Supplies Of Our Vermont Towns
Mr.. Moat said that he could only discuss
the subject from laboratory standpoint;
Judgment from the field is no less import
ant. The work of the laboratory is to detect
impurities in the water when they enter
from unseen sources. In order to do effec-
tive work the chemist must have a full
history of the water. The speaker en-
phaszed the Importance which attends a
complete filling Of the blank which the
health officers send in when making re-
port. It Is the intention Of the laboratory
to examine each public system four times
year but this has not yet been accom-
plished. In some towns the selectmen do
not wish to be put to this expense but they
should have enough public spirit to see
| that the samples are sent in. Mr.. Moat
| then went on to state briefly the condition
of the water systems In ,..e principal towns
| of the State.
| The paper was discussed by DR.. D. c.
Noble of Middlebury and Dr. William
Lindsey of Montpelier. In this discussion
and in the general discussion which fol-
| lowed much was said in praise OF the
work being done at the State laboratory.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session was opened with
the presentation of paper on The Rela-
ton of Animal Diseases to Man by d. f.
Salmon, D. V. NJ, head of the bureau of
animal diseases Washington. d. c. At
the outset the speaker told of how the re-
| lation of animal diseases to man has come
to be better understood than formerly and
| pointed out some of the ways in which
precautions may be taken to prevent hui
man infection from animal diseases
| through the use Of meats, etc. and told of
some Of the most common parasites with
which meats are infected.
i The disease which Is now causing the
I greatest amount OF discussion is tubercu-
losis and the speaker showed the rapid
spread 1t has made in the last few years.
The most alarming phase of the tubercu-
losis question is the frequency of it's occur
renee among the lower animals upon which
we are so largely dependent for food. 1t is
only question Of time when we shall find
as great number OF animals infected with
: tuberculosis in the country as there are
in the worst infected sections OF Europe
unless the proper prec autions are taken.
He gave many examples which show the
} relationship existing between different
types OF tuberculous bacilli. We may con-
clude that cattle may be infected with tub
erculosis from the worst human cases, and
that the source Of tuberculosis in children
must be traced in part to the drinking OF
,, milk. He spoke of instances where men
have been nnoculated while making post
norton examinations of tuberculosis cat
, tie and noted other instances that would
seem to show that men are quite suscepti-
BILE to infection from bovine tuberculosis
ha Nl.at, h tt,-t nj
: Experiments along the lines discussed and
the statistics of various countries bearing
upon the question were frequently quoted
, The discussion which followed was open
ed by the Hon. G. j. Bell, secretary of the
State cattle commission. who said a dis
eased animal in herd of cattle will trans.
mt the disease with great rapdity in a
, short time. We believe that it can be
stamped out. The tuberculin test we
must believe in and we do believe in. The
dairy business is one of our chief interests
and by honest and careful work we car
stamp out tuberculosis.
The Hon. Ernest Hitchcock of Pittsfort
continued the discussion complimenting II
the beginning of mis- remarks the excellent
paper presented by Dr. Salmon. HI
thought the time has come when we neeC
a more careful inspection of meat to salts
~ the best interests of the people.
, The Hon. George Aitken of Woodstock
continued the discussion saying that tn,
spread of tuberculosis is due in part to tn,
!, tendency Of the past few years in erecting
barns which exclude air and sunlight ant
, thus produce condition in which the dis
ease thrives.
DR.. c. w. Peck of Brandon, the mex
speaker. said that tuberculosis would b.
: stamped out of the State only when al
worked together for it's determination. ii,
discussed quite extensively tho conditions
existing. and said they could be change(
by the hearty cooperation OF all of tn,
people of the State with the State boart
3 of health.
The last speaker to discuss the question
Q was Dr. Don d. Grout of Waterbury, WI
said II presented both sanitary and
I financial aspect. He introduced the follow
. ing resolutions, which were unanlmousl,
3 adopted:
Whereas, during the last year a contro
versy has unfortunately developed Target.
In the public press. regarding the trans
instability Of bovine tuberculosis from tn
: animal to the human system: and believin,
, such controversy to be misleading and in
.. imical to the safety and highest interest
OF our people. We, the health officers u
Vermont In convention assembled, desir
to place upon record our unanimous opin
Ion regarding the matter; therefore,
Resolved, That the experience and OBJ
: servation OF the medical profession, as wei
as the experimental researches OF our mos
eminent scientists both at home an,
abroad. all point conclusively to the trutl
of such theory.
J., Resolved, That In view of the above, W
q do most heartily deprecate any action upol
the part of our legislature looking toward