Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1905-03-28
Is tuberculosis on the Increase?

L
of the Cattle Commission one might
readily conclude that tuberculosis among
the cattle of the state was greatly on
the increase. This may or may not be
the case, and we know of no authority
among us who can confidently maintain
either the affirmative or negative of the
question. Certain it is that there Is too
much of the disease among our cattle
and every possible effort should be put
forth to stay its extension.
The report of the Commission shows
that the number of cattle destroyed and
paid for by the state has increased from
year to year. for several years past, but
those who have been familiar with the
situation we'll understand that this fact
does not necessarily show like increase
of the disease among the stock OF the
state. When the fact of the presence
of this disease among the cattle of our
state was first made public it was under
circumstances that caused an unfortd-
nate scare among the people that greatly
stood in the way of learning actual con-
ditions. Many diseased cattle were
destroyed by their owners without the
knowledge of the Cattle Commission or
the public, and consequently without
compensation from the state. None of
these, therefore, appear in the reports of
the Commission. Gradually this scare
and the secrecy going with it have worn
off, and at the same time more general
knowledge of the disease obtains among
stock owners, so that more cattle from
year to year have recently been reported,
H., nd
by the state. This of itself is enough to
account for the increased destruction
reported and the enlarged demand upon
the state for appropriations. Cattle
owners now without hesitation, whether
their herds are large or small, promptly
report suspicious cases and they are at
once attended to by the proper author
tiles. Hence more diseased cattle are now
found and publicly known than was the
case years ago under the ban of secrecy.
On account of the recent development
of the disease in several large herds in
our state the question of the predispos-
ing causes is receiving, as we'll it may,
wide consideration and close study by
stockmen. So far pure air is the only
curative agency, if there be any such,
known in pathology. Ex-Governor
Bachelor of New Hampshire relates an
experiment on trial with a diseased
herd, when he was one of the Cattle
Commission of his state, which was
taken in charge, given exposure in
plenty of pure air and finally cured. If
it be fact that exposure in pure air is
curative 1t. must be preventive in its
tendency.
The question is arising in the minds
of Stockmen with large herds in their
charge whether we have not been con-
finiug our stock in too close quarters
for their health and vigor. Conditions
that have been encountered call for a
thorough study by competent and ex-
perienced men. We have for good
many years had means Of knowledge of
herds of cattle at public institutions
throughout New England, where public
funds enable what was intended to be
"ideal' barns to be provided, and we
believe we are not mistaken in saying
that in every case, sooner or later they
have been cleaned out by tuberculosis.
These results were not accidental.
What, then, is the cause of conditions
We know are abroadP 1t is not enough to
Gull out and destroy, we want to prevent
these losses. Will not our stockmen
give to their associates their conclusions
on these matters through the columns
of the Farmer.-Maine Farmer.