The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1908-04-18
Standing of the Club
IMPORTANT INTERSTATE LAW
The Government and Tuberculosis

To the Notwithstanding the in
terstate shipment OF animals affected
with tuberculosis, and replying to
subscribers inquiry as to why such
cattle can not be so shipped, when
cattle from Texas fever districts arc
permitted shipment, you are advised
that Section 6 of the act of May %,
1884. provides as follows:
Sec. 6. That no railroad company
within the United States, or the own
ers or masters of any steaming ur
receive for transportation, or trans
port, from one state or territory TO
another. or from any state into the
District Of Columbia, or from the Dis
trict into any state, any live stock
affected with any contagious, infec-
tiouS or communicable disease, and
especially the disease known as pleu-
pneumonia; nor shall any person,
company, or corporation deliver for
such transportation to any railroad
company, or master or owner Of any
boat or vessel, any live stock, know
ing them to be affected with
any disease, nor shall any person,
company or corporation drive on
foot or transport in private conveyance
from one state or territory to another,
or from any state into the District Of
Columbia, or from the District into
any state, any live stock, knowing
them to be affected with any conta-
giOus, infections or communicable
disease, and especially the disease
known as euro-pneumonia: PrOVid-
ed, that the so-called spIenetic or
Texas fever shall not be considered q
contagious, infectious, or communica
BILE disease within the meaning of
sections, four, five, six, and seven of
this act, as to cattle being transported
by rail to market for slaughter. when
the same are unloaded only to be fed
and watered on lots on the way there
to-"
1t was evidently the opinion of Con-
gress that as cattle from the Texas
fever district came from a restricted
area and travelled over rather definite
routes, and the principal markets were
limited, an exception could safely he
made under certain conditions. 1t ap-
pears however, that it was also the
opinion Of Congress that it was dam
gerous to the live stock interests to
permit the shipment of animals af-
fected with other contagious, infec-
tious or communicable disease, and
this, l believe to be good law The
Secretary Of Agriculture has given
notice that the law above quoted will
be enforced against the interstate
movement of cattle and swine affected
with tuberculosis.
tuberculosis is pretty generally dis
tributed throughout the United States,
although perhaps existing to a greater
exent in some sections than others,
and shipments of cattle are frequently
made from practically all portions of
the country. To supervise the ship
ment and insure the proper disposal
of tuberculosis ANIMALS and to secure
the thorough disinfection of railroad
cars, chutes, ETC., would be an under
taking of much greater magnitude and
difficulty than is the case with cattle
from the fever area. 1t would, there
fore, seem to me both impracticable
and unwise to permit the interstate
shipment of animals affected with tu-
berculosis, even if the law did not
prohibit this.
Recent Investigations regarding tu-
berculosis have shown very clearly
that 1T is much more conta gious than
was formerly supposed, and this fac.
has become quite generally known.
For this reason various states are
making greater efforts than ever be-
fore to eradicate the disease, and this
movement is undoubtedly furthered
by the agitation of the last few years
for better milk and meat supply.
which has shown to many the preva-
lence Of the disease and has caused
general awakening looking to it's
eradication I.
AS national economic measure
doubt the advisability, even if it were
possible to do so. of permitting the
large slaughtering centers to become
the dumping ground for diseased ami
mails from all over the country. While
no doubt these centers can take care
OF the diseased animals that would
come to them in the general course
or trade, 1t is my opinion that to make
them general dumping ground would
not improve the reputation of our
meat products abroad.
Practically all states except a few in
the West and South have Strengthening
stations where Federal inspection is
and these stations should
be able to take care of tuberculosis
animals if it is desired to slaughter
them under Federal inspection. with
out the necessity for interstate ship
ment. A. d. Melvin,
Chief Of Bureau Iof Animal Industry
Department of Agriculture.