The Mankato free press., 1907-04-26
MinneOpa Park Farm Herd
I Tested for Tubercular
THlRTY.ONE ARE CONDEMNED
It's a Great Loss to Owners, But Mr.,
Mcconnell Proposes to Era
dicate the Ailmcnt.
rrom Fridays Daily.

rrom Fridays Daily.
The Free Press has ever been a
staunch advocate of the interests of the
public. 1t is generally conceded that
| there is in this and other countries more
or less tuberculosis in the bovine herds.
The large cities i'm order to protect
their milk supplies have taken rigid
steps to eradicate this disease that is
preying upon the best herds of cattle
in the country. Some time since, this
newspaper contained an account of five
| or six head of animals that were de-
stroyed and part of them proved tuber-
cular As the name of the herd was
withheld, it will be remembered that
w. w. p. Mcconnell, in order to re-
ieve others, especially milk venders,
promptly announced that the cattle re-
ferred to were from the Minneopa park
herd and that at the earliest oppof.
| tunity the herd would undergo rigid
| inspection. On his return he secured the
services of DR.. Whitcomb, an expert
of the state sanitary and live stock
board, being a specialist of the disease,
herd consists of approximately one hun
dred animals, largely pure bred. While
it took more than ordinary courage to
take this step, all will join with The
Free Press in commencing the course
of these people; while it is loss not
easy to bear, it was certainly the hon
orable and heroic thing to do. DR..
WhitcOmb was instructed to absolutely
clean up the herd; after two days the
animals had undergone test made by
the injection of tuberculin, which is con-
ceded by the best authorities in the
world to be the only reliable test.
Thirty one animals in this fine herd sue
cumbed, part of them only showed slight
symptoms of the disease, but as it was
the purpose of the owners to entirely
eliminate the disease from the herd, at
their request the thirty one head which
were condemned will all be destroyed at
the South st. Paul stock yards, where
they will be shipped at once, and the
fat cattle of this number, after pass
ing post mortem examination, will
be disposed of as the government ex-
perts may decide. Some of these cat
tie were milk and farrow cows, others
fat cattle. All this proves beyond
doubt the Importance of testing herds
for this disease. This applies with great
force to herds used for the city milk
supply No one is to blame for having
diseased cattle, but certainly anyone and
everyone is to be censured who deliber-
ateIy continues to sell milk for human
food, when it is known that this dread
disease is abroad in the land, without
taking proper precautions against it..
1t is placing money value over against
health AMI life The Free Press COM
mends the action the Minneopa Farm
company has taken and while they are
not now nor have been milk venders for
wears, they felt the need and Justice
of the coursce taken for their own self
protection, as well as that of the public.
While it has made great inroads into
this valuable herd and has cost large
amount of money, but with the disease
eradicated the herd which is left is
worth infinitely more than the whole
herd with suspicion resting upon it.
The Free Press is glad that the pro.
prietors have set the ball rolling and
has faith to believe that others will
follow their example.
No one questions the honesty of the
milk venders, and all fully understand
their purpose i'll wanting to do the
right thing but all likewise appreciate
the fact that it is no easy matter to
take an action that one knows may en-
tail a loss, yet after mature consid-
Grafton all will concur that it is best
to do the right thing. May the good
work move along until Mankato becomes
noted not only for her milk supply but
for herds free from disease.