Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-19
LOCAL MILK SUPPLY.
Veterinary Association Favors Meas
ure for It's Publication.

The Veterinary Association of Washing
ton favor the proposed compulsory exam
ination and registration under the tuber-
culin test of mich cows which furnish the
local milk supply. They forwarded a set
Of resolutions adopted at their last meet
ing, to this effect, to the Commissioners
yesterday and the association also de-
clared that they are aware of the exist
ence of tuberculosis at many of the dairy
farms whose milk is shipped to Washing
ton.
1t is also cited in the resolutions that the
members of the association are aware that
recent Investigations made by the bureau of
animal industry of the Department of Agri-
culture proved that milk from diseased
cows does come to Washington, and that it
Is not only germ breeding but dangerous
for consumption They stated that some
steps should be taken to prohibit the Ship
ping of this milk into the District.
According to the veterinarians tubercu-
loSiS in cattle is difficult for the average per-
son to determine, except when the infected
cow is in the last stages of consumption
and by that time the disease has been
spread through the herd, as it takes about
two years for the disease to reach that
state. They suggested to the Commissioners
that some drastic efforts be made to secure
the legislation prepared by DR.. Woodward
health officer, and which is now pending be-
compel registration and examination of all
herds supplying milk. 1t is suggested that
the bill also provide for in this legislation
that new test shall be applied every
twelve months to every cow from which
milk is taken for the local supply
1t is suggested in the resolutions that
when these proposed tests are made
all mich cows that show no signs of tuber-
cuosis be labeled or ear-marked healthy"
and that all cows that show symptoms of
having the disease be marked ''unhealthy''
and that the latter be always kept from
the healthy members of the herd. BY doing
this they claim a practical method of pre-
venting the spread of the disease will have
been arrived at.
The pending bill which is pending action
does not contain any provision for making
the test referred to or the labelling of and
separating of the herds but when asked
about it today he said the suggested idea
was most excellent one and would work
much good. He said he had considered it
when preparing the proposed bill, but was
deferred from embodying in the bill a
clause to accomplish that end only by rea-
son of what he believed to be the practical
1mpossibility Of procuring it's enactment.
He said: Public opinion in this District
does not seem to be as yet sufficiently
alive to the Importance of the safeguarding
OF the milk supply of this community by
means OF the compulsory tuberculin test to
render it possible to procure the enact
ment of the necessary legislation. The
Veterinary Medical Association should be
thanked for having inaugurated a move
ment looking toward the enlightenment of
public opinion with respect to this matter"
He concluded his statement by saying he
did not believe there is anything the Com
m1SS1onerS can now do toward establishing
the compulsory test in connection with the
milk supply, but he hopes they will have
the necessary