Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-07-05
MILK FROM DISEASED COWS.

1t is generally admitted that, with rare
exceptions. typhoid germs are taken into
the system only through the use of con-
taminated water or milk. Certainly these
are the most common mediums. The
germs may be developed, or the human
system depleted to a condition most fitted
for their deadly work. by poor ventilation.
detective drainage, unwholcsome food, un-
cleanliness of person or surroundings, and
other unsantary causes. But water and
milk supplies are always the first 70 be
examined by experts in searching for the
causes of typhoid, Disease in the dairy
Is now coming to be regarded as also one
of the most insidous but fruitful sources
! of tuberculosis.
| on a farm in n hill town in Massachu-
sets growing In popularity as a summer
resort | saw, one winter. or spring. before
! the summer guest season. two cows OF Il
dairy of ten, hahitually MIXED while hay
| ing boil-like swellings on their udders as
| large as small walnuts. I have seen the
| farmer while milking stop and squeeze
out the pus and without leaving the milk
| ing stool or washing his hands resume
his milking into the pail, the contents of
which were taken to the house for family
use.
/ In the same dairy was another cow reg
ularly MIXED, whose uddcrs were mass
of wart-ike Growths. Some of them were
raw and hled most of the time In their
case the milking process was 50 painful
, to the COW that while naturally 4 docilc
/ gentle animal at milking time she became
dangerous through her suffering. The
| farmhouse was comfortable and whole
some in outward appearance and was a
favoritc boarding place with refined city
families. They probably never gave q
thought to the quality of the milk sup
ply, the quantity hciGg ovar-geucrous.
The farmer. when questioned by me as
a "tendcrf0ot' ~ to the lcalthfulncs, OF
milk from the two animals SO evidently
diseased. spoke OF the ailmcnt rs being
only "cow poX'! 1t VIII he borne in mind
perhaps, that COW pox IS the source of III,
powerful virus used in vaccination. con.
suited an expert Connecticut dairymar
about it. He expressed the opinion thai
the swollngs Indicated tuberculosis,
| Within few weeks the farmer wa,
under the care of 4 surgeon for dangorou.
sores on his arm, and his wife was re
lceiVing medical attention for alarming alb
lscesscs on her neck, This farm was own
ed and managed by an experienced ano
what is locally considered an exceptionally
enterprising farmer not yet In middle life
a man Of excellent character, highI,
esteemed in the community and devoted I,
his family and the pleasures of his sum
NOR guests. But he little appreciated tn,
danger to which his ucglcct of even tn,
simplest sanitary precautions exposed hi
household.
PALS NOT CLEANED
1t has not been an uncommon sight il
my life among farmers of a good class 4
see milkpails used for watering horses
hastily rinsed out and Immediately takel
for use in the dairy. In one farmhous
where city bOarders were taken ! hav
stumbled upon milkpail in which sollc'
under clothing was soaking for laundr
purposes. When Unexpectedly called 70
the pail was hurriedly emptied and sen
to the dairy after slight rinsing.
A few such experiences transformed m
from an hahtual drinkci of milk NJ cit
lunchroOms into n total abstainer fror
such reckless and suicidal dissipation 4
country farmhouses
In the genera living-r jom of farm
house, which most OF the time If. white
was over-crowded and foarfully overhead
ell by "a huge wooG stove, I have bee
accustomed to see tho milk Wrought In m