Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-23

On motion by Mr.. Alden of Kennebec
resolve in favor of Maine Insane Hos
pital, was received under suspension of
the rules. and the same senator moved
its reference to the committee on an
preparations and financial affairs, and
said:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Senate: AS life long dairyman and
stock feeder 1 naturally feel that the
quality and health of our live stock
must largely determine the success of
our agriculture. In fact the State re-
eognizes this and has wisely provided
/ commission whose duty it is to exam
anime into any and all cases of dis
eased ANNALS, and to destroy at the
expense of the State, in part, all such
is may be affected with such diseases
is are liable to injure the consumer of
the product. In the recent wide spread
outbreak of the dreaded foot and
mouth disease, with which the United
states government is graphing with
Ill it's power, there is great cause for
thankfulncss, that, thus far, Maine
stock has escaped. The rigid quaran-
tine established by our authorities has.
thus far, kept our borders free, the re-
suit being that Maine cattle enjoy an
anviable reputation, and so soon as the
quarantine is off, will be wanted by the
milk producers of other states at
prices satisfactory to the producers.
These conditions, Mr.. President and
gentlemen of the Senate, are maintain
I'd only by maintaining the health of
)ur domestic animals. During the
weeks that this Legislature has been in
session, rumorS have been reaching
our ears that the health of the valuable
herd at the State Insane Asylum across
the river, was in danger that the I'M
fortunates from the homes all over
Maine were drinking milk from cows
diseased with tuberculosis. Gentle
men. your agricultural committee felt
that this was too serious a matter to
De passed over, and, after mature de-
liberation after repeated discussions
and conferences with friends of our
agriculture. We met the superinten-
lent and steward of the asylum only to
ind that they had been patiently striv-
ing to eliminate all traces of diseases
by the removal and destruction of cows
showing diseased condition under
pHy TEST. HIS Htlu WAS leSIeu
with tuberculin, last year, and again,
this winter, the work in both cases be-
ing performed by competent veterina-
rians, and quite a large per cent. reach
ed sufficiently large to justify further
action. 1t was the wish of DIR. San
born and Mr.. Campbell that our COM
mittee, made up of farmers, should
visit and personally inspect this herd,
and this we did. Instead of a lot of
run down. sick looking cows, we found
a herd to be proud of, in fine condition,
giving a large quantity of milk, hearty
and apparently rugged in spite of the
story told by tuberculin. Only a few
were in poor condition. More than
this, we found the officers determined
to sift the question of condition and
diseases and we were asked to CO.
operate. A second visit was planned,
when it was proposed to kill one COW
whose condition was poor, but which
reacted but slightly. and one bull and
one COW in fine condition, but which
reacted the highest of any. These ami
mails were in our presence destroyed, |
and we found the cause of the poor
condition of the COW to be large abb
sees on her liver, in which was inn
bedded a two-inch nail. In the case
of the bull and other COW, small tuber-
cles were found in each, on
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