The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-09
SPREAD BY MILK.
1t Is Most Protent Agency in
Transmission of Consumption.
Government Bureau Busy Studying
Question of Infection Of Cattle
With Tuberculosis.

Question of Infection Of Cattle
With Tuberculosis.
Twelve per cent Of the deaths Of
persons of all ages in America are
due to the white plague popularity
known as consumption. In practical
ly every instance the infection Of tu-
berculosis is communicated to peo-
pie through impure milk and not
through the breathing Of dried sput-
UNI, as generally is supposed. My
belief is that the government could
do no greater humanitarian work
than in providing a fund for the err
adication of tuberculosis from cattle.
This work could be performed COM
paratively easily, and, while the in
itial cost might be considerable, it
would be we'll worth the money ex-
pended.
DR.. C. E..Schroeder, of the bureau
of animal industry of the National
Department of Agriculture, made
this statement, after a very exhaus-
tive investigation of the causes which
lead to tuberculosis.
IF some man of the wealth of An
drew Carnegie could be induced to
devote some of his riches to the era
dication of the white plague his
name would 60 down to history as
one of the greatest benefactors Of
his race. | have no doubt that con!
sumption practically could be eradi-
Gated from the United States by the
application of modern scientific meth
dds in the handling of the disease.
Every cow in the country ought to
be tested for tuberculosis and, if
found infested. the animal ought to
be killed. Thousand Of. mich cows
undoubtedly are infected with tuber-
culosis and the milk they furnish
carries with it the germs of the dis
ease into the human system.
"Ina vast majority of cases, it has
been demonstrated conclusively that
the germs of the white plague are
introduced into the human system
throughthe alimentary canal. Thepce
they are carried into the lungs or
throat or bowels, where they increase
enormously. The only way to prevent
the, introduction of consumption
germs into the system through milk
is to boil the milk and, of course,
that is impracticable in a majority
of instances.
81 am satisfied from the results of
experiments made by the govern
ment, that the danger of tuberculo-
sis from dried sputum is incense
quental. 1t is not comparable with
the danger of impure milk, Exper-
iments have shown that the germs of
the disease must be taken into the
system through, food and milk is the
food which is the most extensive con-
veyer of these germs. Therefore, if
W 'purify the milk supply of q given
community we practically eliminate
danger of the white plague.
So important are the Investigations
EOl CIlS tSilCuiLu1d al DCpof IiiiSiie oiio
of independent scientists regarded
that it is very probable Congress may
take up the question precisely as it
provided for the inspection of. beef
cattleaafter slaughter. Seyeralmem-
\ bersM Congress now are consider
ing the subject with a view to the
introduction of legislation providing
for a careful inspection of the sourc-
es of the country's milk supply. The
idea is to have an examination made
of mich COWS, in instances where the
milk is furnished to the public, and
to provide for the killing Of such an.
finals as may be found to be afflicted
with tuberculosis, the government
to make an allowance to the owner
of the cattle thus killed. In this way
only, it is urged by scientists, can
the white plague" be eradicated
from the United States.
- .i,2tIf .<ufICUyrHY