Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-08-22
TUBERCULOSIS In THE DAIRY.


There is probably no disease in the
whole category common to both man
and beast which is today receiving
more earnest or careful consideration
than tuberculosis. At no time has there
been a fuller realization Of the posi-
bility of infection from it or so gen.
eral an interest in sensible methods for
checking and preventing ravages by it.
Among these methods the fresh air and
sunshine treatment, or outdoor cure, is
receiving especial attention. A tubef-
culosis specialist in the course of
paper read at a recent medical conven-
ton cited the case Of several monkeys
in the Lincoln park zoo at Chicago
which were in the last stages Of tuber
culosis, but which were entirely cured
by exposing them in their open cage to
all kinds of weather during the winter
months. So successful did the expert
ment prove that the same treatment
will be used with all other apes and
monkeys in the garden, whose average
life in confinement has been but four
teen months The case here cited Is but
a preliminary to the expression Of a
belief that large percentage of tuber-
culosis cases among dairy cows is the
direct result of the pernicious practice
Of keeping them closely confined dur
ing the winter months in badly lighted
and poorly ventilated stables, every
breath of clean, fresh air possible being
kept out in order to prevent lowering
of the stable temperature. And where
the cows are kept confined in the stable
during the summer months, as is true
with a number of silo diaries, the dan
ger from propagation and spreading
of the disease would seem to be greatly
increased. In this connection it would
seem to be pertinent to cite experiments
carried on by the Illinois experiment
station during the past two or three
winters, which proved conclusively that
dairy cows that were left out all win
ter, but given wholesome and nutri-
tious ration and clean, dry, open shed
in which to sleep nights, and stabbed
only at milking time, not only came out
healthier and stronger in the spring,
but made better milk and butter
record than q like number of cows fed
the same ration, but kept closely stabbed
during the entire period. 1t stands to
reason that If tuberculosis is propa-
gated in monkeys and men by lack of
fresh air and sunshine the same
thing would be true of the dairy cow
1t may take some time for this fresh
air and sunshine propaganda to gain a
fOothOld among stock raisers and dairy
men, but it is bound to come before
long, willy nilly. The way to check
tuberculosis in hogs is to give them
clean, dry and well ventilated quarters
and to quit feeding them milk from
tuberculosis infected cows, and the
way to stamp the plague out of the
dairy is to dispose of those animals
known to be infected and to provide
those remaining with the same kind Of
quarters as suggested for the hogs, with
a guarantee of fresh air and sunshine
during every hour possible out Of the
twentyfour.
COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.
In view of the quite general demise
Of the old time agricultural society, a
plan that is being followed in one Iowa
county is worthy Of mention. To be-
gin with. the decadence Of these soci-
cites seems to be due in part to the
greatly increased interest in the state
fairs, which offer superior exhibits
along all lines, and in part to the fact
that as ordinarily conducted the county
fair Is exploited primarily as a money
making scheme, while benefit to be de-
rived by those who attend along the
line Of becoming acquainted with bet
ter varieties of grasses, grain and
stock as well as improved agricultural
methods is held as entirely subsidiary.
The plan proposed has in view the or
ganization Of an agricultural society in
which the farmers of the county shall
be the chief stockholders and whose
purpose shall be the holding Of corn con-
tests and general agricultural exhibits,
with either Of which races or other
amusements may be combined. 1t is
a relatively small per cent of the farm
ers of any state who are able, or at
least take pains, to attend the state
fair; hence county society organized
along the lines suggested would seem
fitted to I'll very definite and useful
place. Combined with the county ex-
pertinent work which is being under
taken in many localities, it would seem
to have in 1t the possibility Of develop
ing into sort of county agricultural
experiment exhibit, possessing definite
and practical value for the farmers of
the county and forming natural and
helpful auxiliary Of the state expert
ment work. The fact that representa-
tive farmers were stockholders would
give them a personal interest In its
success, lack of which has been at the
bottom Of the discontinuance of many
of these once popular county exhibits.