Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-02-22
Head of State College Veterinary
Department Talks Plainly OF
Alarming Conditions
PEOPLE MUST DEMAND PURITY
1t 10 UP to Them; Not to the Milk
Dealer or Butcher - If Public De-
mands Pure Milk, Butter and Meats,
Dealers Must Accede or Go Out Of
Business-Many Facts Cited.

The OdeOn was f1led FRIDAY AFTER
noon between and o'clock with an
audience of men, women and young
people, who listened with the closest
attention TO DIR. J. II. MacNeal, OF
Ames. the head Of the veterinary
department of Iowa State College, who
delivered an address on tuberculosis
in milk cows, and gave an actual DEM
onstration with carcas Of an in
fected animal, bought by the short
course committee and slaughtered for
the purpose.
DIR, MacNeal told of the many dam
gers that Turk in milk butter and meat,
and presented fact after fact, based
upon actual experience.
DR.. MacNeal made it very plain that
no one could tell from the outward
appearance of an animal, or by how 1t
acted, whether the germs of tubercu-
losis had taken root in its system. He
told of the prize steer at the interna-
tional stock show a few years ago,
which took the blue ribbon and was
accorded the finest animal on exhibit
ton in its class. This same steer,
upon slaughter, was found to be so
badly infected with tuberculosis that
it was condemned for food purposes.
Fifteen per cent Of the cows in the
country, according to the speaker, were,
at some time during their milking per-
iod, throwing out tuberculor germs into
the milk pail. Some herds had tested
out full 100 per cent OF Infection,
while others had shown as low as five.
He thought that the average test in a
herd would show anywhere from 20 to
so per cent of the animals infected.
The greatest danger lay in the dairy
herd, where the animals We're congre-
gated during a portion of the year. One
infected animal could spread the dis
ease among the entire herd, and this
was often the case. The milk Of the
one, or two. or whatever the percent
age of infected cows might be, was
mixed up with the milk of the healthy
cows. and sold to consumers, so that
every customer on the milk route was
being served with milk containing the
germs Of the deadly tuberculosis.
Compel Purity in Milk.
DR.. Mac Neal said that the only
thing for the people to do was to com.
pei their mink men to furnish pure
milk A dairyman can not hope or
expect, if he purchases cows for his
herd here and there to escape bringing
in tuberculosis into his herd. The
dairyman was not going to dig down
into his pocket to guarantee pure
milk supply, especially if he knew that
he might lose some of his cows. The
dairyman should not be permitted to
do his own testing, for that was too
much like the prisoner trying his own
case. The verdict of acquittal was
assured. eff the people demand pure
milk, pure butter and pure meats, the
dealer will have to furnish them or go
out of business. They may charge a
little more, but who would not be will
ing to pay more if he knew he was
getting an article that was absolutely
pure?"
No Breeds Exempt.
DR.. Mac Neal stated that no breeds
were exempt from contracting the dis
ease and In many cases oftentimes
the best bred animals were the more
susceptible.
The speaker went on to show how
rapidly the disease could spread with
in herd, and how other stock on the
place could also become infected. He
spoke of herd Of twenty seven shoats
that had been turned into feed lot
to follow cattle that were known to be
tuberculor. This was done as an ex-
pertinent. The hogs ran after the an
imaQs about 100 days and when they
were killed twenty-one of the twenty
seven had tuberculosis. They had be-
come infected solely thru eating the
offal from the infected cattle.
We Eat the Poorest.
DR.. MacNeal showed how the people
were very likely to have the poorest
meats thrust upon them. The steers.
which are not SO subject to the dis
ease because they lead more of an out
door life and have more range in pas
lures, are fattened and killed for ex-
port. The COWS that become unprof1ta-
BILE as mixers are sold to the town
butchers and killed for meat. The cows
are the most subject to the disease,
and the people eat the infected meat
The only way to overcome this evil Is
to demand only meats that have been
subjected to either government or city
| inspection.
Advocates Central Slaughter House
The speaker then touched upon the
central slaughter house idea, which is
the ultimate plan in Marshalltown
DR.. MacNeal said all butchers should
be compelled to kill all meats there at
a certain time. He told of the abom-
| Unable conditions surrounding the av-
erage country slaughter house. and
said that more thoroughly disgusting
place, and wholly unsanitary, could
| not be imagined. "If you people in
Marshalltown want to keep the ball
| rolling, work to get something different
than the ordinary slaughter house"
Explains Tuberculin Test.
| DR.. MacNeal then entered into
an explanation Of the su-ber-