The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-09-11
TRYING TO STAMP
OUT TUBERCULOSIS
New Legislation Proposed to
Guard Against Tubercu-
losis in Cattle.

st. Paul, Mimi, special: Agreeing shat
steps to eradicate tuberculosis among the
COWS of the state would have to be taken
gradually, the conference at the old state
capitol recently was of the opinion that
legislation should be sought by which the
selling of breeding cattle will be prohibi-
ted unless they have stood the tuberculin
test.
1t was the unanimous sentiment of the
health officials, breeders and dalry.nen
present that an effort should be made TO
extend the present work of testing cattle.
The method now in use was described as
a ring around the rosey" affair which
got Nowhere There was a general oe-
mand for a testing of oil cattle OF lhe
state. This, however, would involve the
expenditure in the next two years of sew
eral million dollars, and owing to the abb
senca of interstate regulations about tu-
bercular cattle the state would be help
less to prevent importation of COWS which
were diseased.
1t was argued by w. w. p. Mcconnell.
! president of the live stock sanitary board.
that the federal government should have
inspectors stationed at transfer points or
state boundaries to prevent the shipping
of tuDercular cattle from one state to an
ether. North Dakota enforces such regu-
lations now and there is q federal law
against shipping catule known tic be M
%fectcd, but the lack OF inspection prevents
the obtaining of the full benefit OF the
law.
A committee was appointed "a the st.
Faul meeting consisting of the members
of the board, the dairylnen's association,
the breeders association and the health
officers of cities where regulations against
t~ubcrcular cattle are enforced. This COM
miltec will attempt to secure legislation
agreeable to all parties looking to the
extension of the tubeculin test. This COM
nittee was instructed specially to attempt
to stop the selling CT breeding stock with
out a clean bill of health.
A suggestion was made that II it We're
not possible tt inspect all the cattle in
the state that the inspection include all
herds used for city milk supply, all pure
bred cattle and herds near crealneries. 1t
is estimated that these three classes, ex-
GLIDING the general farm herds. would in
clude about 10000 animals. 1t may be
possible that the present work can be en-
tended so far as to include these classes.
senator SWenscn WAS responsible for
considerable discussion during the after
noon session concerning the details OF
test which he wants made TO prove that
the t~uberculin test for cattle is what 1t is
claimed to be. He wanted Il herd OF cattle
tested. and animals Killed which reacted
and which did not react to the test. These
were to be examined to see if the test is
u iell1Dlt one. LIE Jest may ne ilei0, az
the board offerd to hold it at any time.
1t was the opinion OF some CT those IN
attendance that all the pure-blood breed
ing cattle of the state are'n3w tested. DIR.
Ward thought tina. So per cent would be
nearer correct. 1T was urged by one CO
the veterinarians thai the breeding cattle
should especially be tested, us they pro-
vide ceaters of infection wherever they
go.
In discussing on waom tf.n respcnsihi!-
ity should fail when COWS develop tUber-
culosis several weeks after purchase as
healthy, Professor Hacker answered that
the man who sold the COW should bear
the loss If the managers of the buyers were
SO made that they could be scrubbed and
taken out into the sunlight and were so
treated. If his hangers were dark and
never cleaned, then the responsibility
should fall on the purchaser.
Before adjournment the conference
agreed that the only way to prevent
%datry1nen from buying infected cattle is
to test all the cows In the state, an iInpos-
siblc project at present.