Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-10-05
DEATHS BY WHITEPLAGUE
TWELVE PER CENT. or DEATHS
DUE TO THIS DISEASE.
Agricultural Department is Making
Important Investigation Of the
Question.

Question.
Washington, D. G.. Sept &c
Twelve per cent Of the dea he of
persons of all ages in America are
due to the white plague, popularity
known as consumption. In practically
every instance the infection Of tuber-
culosis is communicated to people
through impure milk and not through
the breathing of dried sputum, as is
generally supposed. Ny belief is that
the government could do no more hu-
manitarian work than in providing a
fund for the eradication of tuDerculo.
sis from cattle. This work could be
performed comparatively easily, and,
while the initial cost might be con-
siderable, it would be we'll worth the
money expended"
Dr. c. z. Schroeder, of the Bureau
of Animal Industry of the Department
after very exhaustive investigation
of the causes which lead to tuberculo-
sis.
If some man with the wealth t
Andrew Carnegie could be induced to
devote some of his riches to the eradi
cation OF the white plague his name
would so down in history as one of
the greatest benefactors Of his race.
have no doubt that consumption
practically could be eradicated from
the United States by the application
of modern scientific methods in the
handling Of the disease Every COW
in the country ought to be tested for
tuberculosis and, if found infected,
the animal ought to be killed Thous-
ands of milch-cows undoubtedly are
infec ed with tuberculosis and the
milk they furnish carries with it the
germs of the disease into the human
system
In a vast majority of cases, it has
been demonstrated conclusively that
the germs of the white plague are
introduced into the human system
the alimentry canal. Thence
they are carried into the lungs o.
throat or bowels, where they incr Nase.
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.
Il am satisfied from the results of
experiments made by the government,
that the danger of tuberculosis iafec-
ton from dried sputum is inconse
suential. It is not comparable with
the danger from impure milk. Ex
periments have shown that the germs
o the disease must be taken into the
system through food, ami milk is the
food which is the most extensive con-
veyer of these germs. Therefore, if
we purify the milk supply of given
community we practically eliminate
danger of ths white plague.
So important are the Investigations
of the agricultural department and of
independent scientists regarded that
1t is very probable congress may take
up the question precisely as it pro-
vided for the inspection OF beef cat
tie after slaughter Several members
Of congress are now considering the
subject with a view 10 the introduce
ing a law providing for a careful in
spection of the sources of the coun-
try's milk supply. The idea is to have
an examination made of milch-cows,
in instances where the milk is fur
nished to the public, and to provide
for the killing of such animals as may
be found to be afflicted with tubercu-
losis. the gQvernmnt to make an al
lowance to the owners of the cattle
thus killed In this way only, it is al
legged by scientists, can the white
plague" be eradicated from the Unit
ed States.