Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-10-04
vi. SPEAR INTERVIEWED.
Former Cattle Commissioner Dis
cuses Report Of Atty.-Gen. Fits.

Hon. ". /. Spear, former secretary OF
the state cattle commission, who finished
a three years membership on the board
Dec. 31st last and was succeeded by
George II. Terrill of Morristown, was
asked Monday what he had to say with
regard to the report Of Attorney General
Fits which dwelt at some length upon
Mr.. Spears conduct while commissioner
in the disposition OF condemned cattle,
which report is published in full else
where in this issue. Mr.. Spear said in
substance
'Mr. Fits, in his report assumes that
all cattle that respond to the tuberculin
test are by that sign unfit for food pur-
poses-are diseased in way to make
the disposition of their meat for food
unlawful. The board does not take that
view, but accepts rather the standard
followed by the United States govern
ment, which is also the rule in Massa-
chusetts. This Is that when slaughtered
animals are found to be only slightly
affected in certain parts with tuberculosis,
under competent government inspection,
the meat is pronounced good and whole
some for food purposes. Under authority
OF the present law the cattle commission
could properly act as it has, holding this
view.
sit is fact that 70 per cent of all
animals that respond to the tuberculin
test and are condemned and slaughtered
disclose the presence of bovine tubercul-
osis IN so slight degree that the ordinary
butcher would never note it. Without q
doubt many creatures that have not been
tested are slaughtered every day in Ver-
mont and their meat marketed that have
tuberculosis as much as many that are
condemned under state authority.
"Formerly the law required all ami
mails condemned and slaughtered to be
buried or burnt on the premises of the
owner. In 1902 this was changed, re-
quiring them to be buried. In cold
winter when the ground was frozen this
could not always be done, and so in some
cases the animals were taken to Bur-
lington, slaughtered at the Rendering
Co.'S. plant and made into fertilizer, being
started in this process in the presence Of
one OF the commissioners. This was un-
lawful, OF course, but the only alternative
was to let them lie unburied.
"The change IN the law made in 1904
was suggested by the commission, who
believed it outlined safer and better way
to dispose of condemned cattle. The old
way allowed carcasses to lie about the
owners premises until he got ready to
bury them, and there was complaint that
sometimes this was deferred too long.
The new law simply made it possible to
put the animals under the eye of govern
ment inspectors, who sent the unhealthful
carcasses to the fert ilizlng plants and the
healthful to the markets, while the reve-
nues, less the expense OF shipping to
ssachusetts, were turned over to the
state and helped reduce the cost Of the
laws operation.
81 do not consider this method IN any
degree menace to public health. There
is strong doubt about the possibility of
human infection from eating cooked
meats. il tuberculous, and absolutely no
danger from eating such meat that has
passed searching government inspection.
The real danger lies in eating of the milk
or uncooked food products.
Continued on page 81