Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-06-25

Recent federal and State experiments
show that tuberculosis cattle. especially
cows with pulmonary consumption. cough
up germs into their mouths where they
are subsequently swallowed for who
ever saw COW spit or vomiO just like
the cud. Some OF these germs paes
through the walls of the intestnes Into
the blood vessels and from there to
new place In the cows lungs. She har-
vests n chrop OF germs but plants them
again the same day. But the most OF
the germs pass owl Of the intestines with
the manure or faces. Experiments show
that as many as 37,0oo,o00 tuberculous
germs can thus be passed out OF ono
COW In one day, Any small particle may
then contain an immense number and
when dried may become a part Of the
dust that may later fall In the milk
pail and reach the consumer.
tuberculosis Ia an unpleasant subject
and so are some Of It's important facts.
Hogs md much nutrition In the faces
Of cattle and consequently devour them
greedily and farmers take advantage OF
this fact and encourage 1t by turning
hungry hogs into such ENVIRONMENTS.
Because hogs have been removed from
their natural free roaming conditions
and been placed in small pens with lots
to eat, they have deteriorated physically
and taking on large quantities OF fat
are today considered the most susceptible
| OF all animals TO tuberculosis germs
Therefore hogs associating with tuber-
culous germs as above indicated can
hardly help becoming more or less af-
fected according to the number Of germs
given OF, and therefore proportionate
to tho degree OF dangerousnesa Of the
COW. Stopping right here for moment,
every intelligent reader could do some
reasoning on the facts just given, and
possibly evolve an automatic plan for
loca ting the dangerous tuberculosis an
finals.
On nearly every farm hogs and cat
tie associate in the same pens and pas
| lures to n greater or less extent. Most
hogs are ready for market within a year
a fter birth. The bulk OF hogs are
slaughtered in packing houses having
federal inspection. where every single
hog Is given two thorough examinations
for tuberculosis. During the fiscal year
1907. ON hogs were under contamina
ting conditions on the farms from which
they came. and the milk and milk pals
are exposed to the same dangerous con-
ditions on these same farms. Assuming
that these same farmers are raising an
equal number OF hogs this year. then
40, 900 living hogs are at present exposed
to the same communicating conditions on
these same farms and when marketed
make up the bulk OF another 1900
tuberculous hog but has absolutely nc
idea where the hog originally came from
for all hogs look alike after the hair
is removed and the head cut across.
Any COW that will scatter tubercu
lous germs In sufficient numbers to AT
feet associating hogs Is a dangerous an
imal because she is scattering germs
General compulsory tuberculin testing IL
the method necessary to completely Grad
icate animal tuberculosis on the othe
hand. compulsory tagging OF hogs Is tn
method of Graduating every dangerou
tuberculosis animal with which hogs as
sociate. At any rate preliminary dat'
would be secured concerning the extern
and distribution and. therefore, approx
mate appropriation necessary 10 eradi
cate it, Blanks sent quarterly 20 the far
mers as applications for tags TO appl,
to animals born during the last quar-
ter would give a perpetual live stoc
census besides the ownership tag.
There Is Just as much Justice In sellin1
live animals on their real merits AZ Il
making It compulsory that their product
; shall be 20, and so only sold. Tho gov
eminent can carry out a law affecting
the Interstate centripetal channels o
trade as we'll as the interstate centrifuga
channels II the nation and the Stat
appropriate sums that are inadepuat
| to compensate the owners for destruc
ton Of these tuberculous germ nlanufac
turing animals. then It must seem
profitable investment for the packers q
this country to comparatively invest tn
remainder necessary to completely Grad
icate every living tuberculous food an
imal, and therefore cease buying 1900
. tuberculous animals every year But IN
greatest good will come 10 the people
for If every tuberculous animal wou!
be eradicated It would solve the mum
cipal and country meat and milk suppl
problem as far as tuberculosis the great
est danger Is concerned. There is pos
/ lively only one side to this question, 10
Il Is for the best interests of everyon
and is not antagonistic to single sot
on earth.