The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1908-12-04
BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS.


made upon some people when their
pocketbook is touched. An upstate
pspcr is Just wondering where We are at
on the bovine tuberculosis question and
that thought has been awakened because
the state is paying out some money IN
carrying out those measures suggested by
the best authorities for the purposes OF
esadicating or controlling tuberculosis in
cattle. Whatever has been done has
been with the idea OF decreasing tuber-
culosis in the human being, and il is,
therefore, solely question OF the public
health. and as such the community
should more than share the loss OF the
cattle owner in carrying out such a
measure especially at time when abso-
late knowledge and data as to the
tuberculin test and its effectiveness in
Hadicating bovine tuberculosis are slight
and uncertain. Compulsory testing in
other states has caused lack Of support
d the effort by the cattle owners and
without the sincere and earnest coopera.
ton of the farmer but little can be done
in solving the problem.
The state board Of health should I'M
dertake to see that none but food prod
ucts from healthy animals, prepared I'M
der sanitary conditions, reach the public
in this state, or are permitted to be sent
out TO other communities as a Vermont
product, and the state board Of health
should be provided with funds needed for
the purpose. II it is an established fact
that dairy or meat products from tuber-
culous cattle convey or are likely to con-
veg tuberculosis to the human subject,
then the state should regulate the mat
ter in a proper and efficient manner
without regard to the cost. Persons en-
gagged in providing food products for the
public can be compelled to prepare them
under healthful conditions.
In the absence of settled public convic-
ton as to the exact danger now in
volved and because of practical difficult
ties radical measures should be slow of
adoption. 1t is of little permanent bene
fit to destroy at state expense tubercu- |
lous cattle without simultaneously pre-
sGibing the conditions under which sup
posedly healthy cattle shall be kept in
future. 1t is said to be fact that little
OF no tuberculosis will be found where
sunlight and fresh air and cleanliness
prevail. Secure these conditions then as
rapidly as practicable, bearing in mind
that absolute and immediate enforcement
tyua lxn ha sfa nj dohf md |
bankrupt the farmer, to say nothing of
greatly increasing the price of dairy and
meat products and diminishing the sup
ply to an infnitesimal amount. Let the
course be the practical education of the
cattle owner on these points, with the
understanding that his health and pros
perity are involved as much as anyones,
and that at a given time in the future,
+Rin laws will be in effect which shall
Nhe essential conditions under
@,od products may be made and
But. in the meantime, it will not an
swer to dispense with the present precau- {
dons against the further introduction of {
tuberculous cattle, nor the slight COM {
pensation allowed the unfortunate owner /
Of the animals that must be slaughtered. t
At present the owner of condemned cat S
tie il entitled to receive rs per cent of I
made previous to slaughter and S
which in no case shall exceed $50, max /
ing the maximum which such owner may
receive to be $3.50 for single animal
md thus compelling him to contribute as d
his share of the effort to promote the a
public health by graduating tuberculosis t
in the human family, Is per cent of l
somewhat arbitrary appraisal-an ample %
share surely, and especially when it is S
By no means an assured fact that tuber- o
,ulosis can be successfully eradicated in u
,atHe or humans even by the most sue II
,esful adoption of any measures in use Ell
n which may be prescribed. o.
With efficient and bonded assistants to IL
he state cattle commissioner, there can es
se little danger of the sale to the state il
worthless animals and no considerable N
mount of such fraudulent work could be
lone for the primary reason that there u
. no profit in handling such stock. Each nj
lnimL reacting to the tuberculin test Id
hould Immediately be branded on hoof &c
nd flank and complete record of its u
subsequent history be made, whatever Dc
disposal is made of it. No successful So
ution of the problem is likely to occur pi
Without the Identification and history of CO
very case handled by the authorities. M
IL Il I. = |
ariy treated, although the branding may W
Ne limited to the use of a tatooing de- he
ice upon the ear Absolute data, even in
hough gained at considerable cost of op
inc and money, are needed in work I'll
this sort. pa