Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-18
Action of State Agricultural
Department on tuberculosis
Important
KNOWLEDGE BEFORE ACTION
Much More Information Must Be Pro-
cured Before Intelligent Move Can
Be Made to Stamp Out Disease -
Packing Houses Asked to COOPER
ate-GeneraI News.
:pectal to Times Republican.

Des Moines, Dec. 1S.-Thru a reso-
tuition offered by Ex-Governor Pack
ard and thru the efforts Of Governor
Packard and Professor Curtiss OF the
state agricultural college at Ames, the
department of agriculture is to inves-
tigate thoroughly the prevalence Of
tuberculosis in cattle in Iowa, n
when the legislature meets a year from
now it is expected that h depart
ment will nave some reliable informa-
| ton on which the Legislature car with
ton.
he resolution was offered ut the
meeting of the directors of the de-
partment of agriculture by Governor
Packard. At that meeting Governor
Packard and Professor Curtiss of the
agricultural college spoke Of the need
of the investigation and the resolution
was adopted by the board. Professor
Curtiss explained at some length to
tIle DodTu WHY ~ IS sIol pldShlSal w
take a tuberculin test and kill all cat
tie that respond to the test. II a COW
has tuberculosis in the minutast de-
gree it will respond to this test the
ann as one has it in an aggravated
form. Frequently cattle have tubercu-
losis centering in n part of the body
which does not in the slightest de-
gree affect the rest of the carcass for
beef. The only proper way is to kill
the beef and have a post norton eX-
animation. Then the parts of the beef
that are free can be used with safety.
Those who have investigated the
matter Of tuberculosis in cattle have
discovered that there are a great many
things that are not known that must
be known before an intelligent action
can be taken to stamp the disease out.
1t has been established that the dis
ease is not hereditary and hence there
is thought to be no real need for kill
ing all the cattle that happen to be
found to have the disease. That there
is necessity for stamping out the dis
ease. however, is fully apparent to all
the members of the board of directors
of the department of agriculture.
1t is proposed in the resolutions
adopted by the department to have
Secretary Simpson invite the manage
ment of packing houses to report on
January / and monthly thereafter h
number of cattle and swine Killed dur
ing the month that showed tubercu-
losis where the animals came from
Iowa. Veterinary surgeons are invited
to do the same and the committee OF
the board on contagious diseases is in
structed to investigate and report some
method for graduating the disease in
cattle and hogs in the state of Iowa.
The resolutions adopted by the
board are as follows:
whereas. the reports of federal
meat inspectors Show bovine tubercu-
losis to prevail in scattered localities
thruout the state. therefore be it
Resolved, that the state board Of
agriculture, thru its secretary, invite
the management Of packing houses to
report, on January 1st, the number of
cattle and swine which during the pre-
ceding month, having origin In Iowa,
have been found upon post norton in
spection to oe t~uberculal'; and that
similar reports be made monthly there
after; when practicable such reports
to show the name of the seller, and
locality where the animals were pro-
duced.
"Resolved, that all veterinary sur
geons be requested to make to the
secretary of the department of agri-
culture similar reports in regard to
animals which they test.
Resolved, that the committee on
contagious diseases be instructed to
investigate and report on the best
methods to be pursued to eradicate the
disease, from Iowa cattle and swine"