The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1908-11-04

of tuberculosis has issued an inter-
esting report OF the losses sustained
as a result of condemnation OF stock
infected by tuberculosis. According
10 this report, there are approximate
" II 900 carcasses of beef and 66,OOO
carcasses of hogs condemned each
year by the federal meat inspectors
on account of tuberculosis. 1t would
not be far from to estimate the loss
on these carcasses at present prices
as $40 each on the beef and SIP
each on the pork, according to the
United States Department of Agricul-
ture. This is net annual loss from
the condemnation OF carcasses OF
100000 for beef and S7S0,000 for
pork, or a total of s1,220,000. This
statement, however, does not include
the 647 parts Of beef carcasses and
the 142,105 parts of hog carcasses
which it was necessary last year to
condemn for the same cause, and the
approximate value of which cannot
be ascertained
In addition to the carcasses con-
demned by federal inspectors, there
are a considerable number condemned
by State and municipal inspectors.
These are mostly carcasses OF dairy
cattle killed in the work Of suppress
ing tuberculosis, or OF cows no longer
profitable in the dairy which are sent
for slaughter to the smaller abattoirs.
The aggregate number Of these has
not been ascertained, but in some
years it has amounted to several
thousand carcasses.
The losses to the dairy industry
from tuberculosis have been enorm-
Gus from decrease in milk and depre-
citation and death of animals. the
dairy herds have been affected to
greater extent than any others, ana
the infection as rule spread through
the cows of herd until so to 80 per
cent, of the animals were affected.
IN the early stages of the disease the
product of the cows is not visibly
Iessened. but as the tubercular pro-
cess develops the animals often be-
come feverish, their milk is diminish
ed in quantity, and they lose f1esh
and are no longer profitable. The
losses from shrinkage of the milk
and from the destruction of so many
cows must be tremendous, but 1t has
never been definitely determined.
An extremely serious phase Of this
subject is the effect of the disease IN
destroying valuable families of cat.
tie and blood lines which can never
be renewed. In most of the breeds
there are certain families or strains
Of blood which have been developed
by long and skilful selection, and
which represent the one marked sue
cess in a breeders life. The repre-
sentative animals of such a strain
are generally few in number, and may
be in one herd. Under such circum'
stances the introduction of tubercu-
losis has often meant the annihilation
of the strain and the blotting out oil
the achievements of a lifetime OF
toil and study. Such losses can
scarcely be measured III uOlldrS anu
cents, but they are no less real an
no less serious as an obstacle to the
development of the cattle industry.
The influence upon export trade OF
regulations relative to tuberculosis
will probably become more and more
unfavorable. Breeding and dairy cat
tie for Canada and Argentina must
now be tested and found free from
the disease before they will be ad-
mitted. The tendency everywhere is
to make more stringent regulations,
and any considerable increase in the
prevalence of the disease would have
an unfavorable effect upon the sale OF
live animals, meats, and dairy pro-
ducts, even If burdensome regula.
tions were not imposed. To meet
successfully the increasing compe'
tition in the markets of the world 1t
is important to have products which
it can be shown are produced from
healthy animals and which do not
carry danger Of any kind to the
health of the consumer.