Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-05
dAHA, MONDAY MORNING, OCTOBER 5, 1908.
WAR ON The WHITE PLAGUE
Scientific Minds Bent on Finding How
to Stop Its Rsvages.
MILK AS A SOURCE OF INFECTION
Veterinarian Argues that Government
should Have Full Control of
Dairy Products as Well
as of Meats.
From a SAD correspondent.l )


WASHINGTON, oct. 4. - Especially II
every man and woman on earth could
know and appreciate the work Of the
Tuberculosis congress. now in session in
Washington. consumption would soon be
s. amped out. Moiern sanitary methods and
modern ideas have eliminated from the
list Of human MS many Of the diseases
which formerly devastated states, coun-
tries and nations. The plague" which de-
populated London some centuries ago Is
practically unknown today. Typhus fever
is seldom heard of now, and yellow
jack" which was always present in San
tiago and Havana to the menace of the
United States, has been almost eliminated
since those cities were cleaned up in
1899 the results Of American occupation.
The phthisis experts who are now in
Washington in attendance upon the con
gress, are agreed upon one point at least.
They are practically unanimous in declar-
ing that plenty OF fresh air, proper food
and ample rest will result I'm the cure
of even obstinate cases Of consumption.
They are also agreed. apparently. that It
is not necessary, to change climate" The
patient With symptoms of tuberculosis need
no. leave Chicago, or Washington, New
York or Omaha II he or she, will observe
the rules Of health. Absolute rest during
the continuance Of the fever. which is a
certain symptom of the disease plenty of
PURE air and absence of worry are the
prime requisites The very abiest prac-
t.tioners, who make tuberculosis their spe-
clalty, are all agreed upon this, and the
results of such treatment in Pennsylvania
and New York particularly, bear out their
claims.
Cause 60 He Eliminated.
Yet there still remains an open question
as to the best method OF stamping out the
cause Of the prevalence and spread of the
great white plague"
Among the delegates to the congress now
in session here is Dr. c. L. Dyson Of Chi
cago, who is one of the most eminent veter-
mary surgeons in the country, and who has
devoted much of his time to human as we'll
as bovine tuberculosis. DR.. Dyson is firmly
Of the belief that the United States can
and should stamp out consumption.
Twenty years ago." he said today
"pleuro-pneumonia and the foot and
mouth disease among cattle were common
in every section of the country. The causes
OF those diseases were unknown. But the
remedy was easily ascertained. 1t con-
sisted solely in the slaughter of every herd
affected and, under authority vested in it
by the congress of the United States, the
bureau of animal industry OF the Depart
ment OF Agriculture proceeded to kill and
pay for every affected animal. The result?
Today there is not known case of either
of tfsise edntagsSas diseases in any herd
of cattle in Amerioa
"On the other hand. II is known positively
that II per cent of all the dairy cattle
from which the milk supply of the city of
New York is obtained are cows suffering
from tuberculosis, Many cities a have
adopted ordinances which assure the con-
sumer of milk against the COW with tuber-
culosis. But there Is no guarantee backed
by federal authority that the consurnptiye
COW OF Iowa or Illinois does not furnish
the butter or milk for Milwaukee or New
york. The federal laws protect the con-
sumer of meat and meat products from, the
danger of consuming the flesh Of diseased
animals, provided, of course, that the ami
NAL is slaughtered in an establishment
which is under government supervision. But
the reports made to the bureau OF animal
industry show that OF all the carcasses of
beer cattle inspected 80 per cent of those
condemned are cows. As less than 30 per
cent Of cattle slaughtered in the establish
ments under federal inspection are cows. II
follows that the greater number of cows
are probably killed for food by local bntcb
ers and are tainted with the bacillus of the
dread disease.
Hogs Also safer.