Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-03-31

q lI Interesting One throughout,
III D. smith; president of tie
St&e kbard of,yHealth, welcomed the
k4aferk bodies, giving the statements
n; the tobjects of the meeting, and in
.troduced the first speaker, DR.. F. l..
Russell. professor Of bacteriology and
veterinary science. University OF
Maine.
Dr. Russells subject was Ways in
which tuberculosis is Spread III Dairy
Herds" He said that something OF
good will be done at this meeting is
to be anticipated. Some of the ways in
which tuberculosis is spread from one
herd to another is by traffic in diseased
cattle. At fairs and in ears the disease
is given by one animal to another. The
germs of the disease are given of by
the diseased animals in various ways.
They may be coughed up; may be CIV
en- off through the feces; they may be
given by the feces getting into the
milk. These germs may dry in the
barn and get on the food which other
cattle will eat The calf will take the
disease from it's mother while nursing.
Animals in close proximity will get the
disease from one another. Animals
eating and drinking from the same
trough will contract the disease from
each other.
Dr. a. l.. Murch, president of the
Maine Veterinary Medical Association,
Bangor, was then introduced by the
chairman. DR.. Murch spoke on 1.-THE
Most Important Measures for the Con-
troll or Prevention of Bovine Tubercu-
losis'' He said in part that
the control would consist of its
exclusion from the State the
prevention would consist tGf its
determination. About IA years ago a
sensation was caused by the discovery
OF whole herds of tuberculous cattle.
cate q 10 fper cent. infection. The i'm
proved conditions are due indirectly to
continued applications of the tubercu-
lin test. in.lnany instances voluntarily
doneS " the owners. .4
In the. topic which had been assigned
to DR.. A Jolysfsecretary Of the Maine
Veterinary MEDICAL Association, Wa
terville, ''The Tuberculin Test; Tech
niQue and Avoidance of Error" DR.
Jolly said that the tuberculn test.
which is marvelously accurate in its
indications has been universally adopt
ed for the detection Cf tuberculosis.
In 1897 DR.. NogeS' compiled statiS-
tics Of tuberculin tests, the accuracy
of which had been determined by post
mortem examination, of 1927 reacting
animals, only "a per cent. failed to
show tuberculOus LESSONS. In the work
Of ho nj
tary Board, post norton examinations
were made on 400 reacting cattle, and
the disease was found in all but eight.
IN this State at the Augusta Insane
hospital, 14S animals reacted, and by
post mortem examinations all showed
tuberculous LESSONS with the exception
of two.
Prof. F. c. Robinson of Brunswick
was then called on by President
Smith. Prof. Robinson's subject was.
"If the Tuberculin Test of Dairy Herds
Is to BE Required by Local Boards of
Health. what Uniform System for Do
ing and Supervising this Work Would
Be the Best?" He stated that local
Boards of Health in small towns have
not the means for the proper supervi-
sion. but the State must do it in some
way. AS to what that way should be
I have not planned. So far, it seems to
me that no plan has been properly ma
tured. l think the State needs some
revision and new development Of laws
in reference to this matter It seems to
me the time is ripe to get ready for
some legislation on broad lines with
reference to the health of the State
F. 3. Adams of Bowdoin president
of the Maine Dairyman's Association,
spoke next on What Further Legisla-
ton Is Needed, IL any. to Guard
Against the Improper Disposal of
Cows and Other Animals Which, I'm
der Private Tests. Have Reacted to
Tuherculin?" Mr.. Adams took the
ground that the cattle commissioners
nothing else to work by They had no
right to test unless cases were suspect
ed. The commission was doing mission
work among the farmers.
After an interesting discussion the
President adjourned the meeting until
O'clock p. NJ.
At the adjourned meeting. the pres
H.
Or. c. W. Purcell of Biddeford, as the
first speaker DR.. Purcell gave an in
teresting account of his experiences in
examining suspected animals both in
Marie and in New Hampshire
The chairman then called upon Leon
s. Merrill of Scion. State dairy in
structur. to speak on the subject of
'The Part of Educative Work In Ban
ishing tuberculosis from Dairy
Herds" Mr.. Merrill said that he be-
'ieved that inspection work should he
done along the line of education. He
hclie.-cd also that the farmers want to
10 what is right in the matter.
John NJ. Deering of Saco. secretary
Of the cattle commission. in the topic
which he onened for discussion. What
Laws or Regulations. if Any. are in
Force in Other States Against the