The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-03-17
Health Board Gets Opinion
From States Attorney
WHAT IS A HEALTHY COW?
State Board Had Ordered Local Board to
Have Dealers in Milk Get Licenses
After Cows Had Been Tested by
"competent veterinarieS"

There is hitch in the proceedings
brought by the local board of health to
force dealers in milk to procure license
showing that their product is satisfactory
and their cows found free from tubercu-
losis; and the local board will refer the
matter back to the state board Of health,
from which the orders came to secure the
testing Of cattle. DIR. NJ. D. Lamb, the
city health officer, halted the proceedings
after comforting with States Attorney
Gates of Washington county, who told
the doctor that he considered the state
board of health was not authorized to
order cows tested for tuberculosis, but
that 1t was for the state cattle commits
sion to do that work.
Acting on the orders If the state board
Of health, DR.. Lamb had issued notice
that all producers OF milk which was sold
in this city must have their cows tested
for tuberculosis by competent veteri-
nary and then present a certificate show
ing the cattle to be free before they could
get license TO do business. This notifi-
cation stirred up considerable Of rum
pus among the milk producers, who OBJ
jected to the requirements as contained
in act No. lis, passed by the Vermont
legislature OF l90S-09. Then Dr. Lamb
took the matter to States Attorney
Gates, whose opinion dissuaded him from
pressing the case for the time being.
As matter OF fact, the law does not
say anything about having cattle tested
by competent veterinaries, but il does
say that licenses shall not be issued un-
less the cows are in healthy condition.
which constitutes the nub OF the diff
Guilty. 1t, furthermore, requires cleanli-
ness about the handling of the milk,
etc, as contained in the following sec
tion;
What the Law Says.
Section l. No person carrying on the
business OF selling, supplying or deliver
ing milk or cream from house to house
shall sell, supply or deliver, milk or
cream whether produced from cows own
ed by him, or in his possession, or under
his control, or purchased BY HIM for sale
from other dairies, to the inhabitants of
the state unless he has procured license
therefor from the board of health of the
town in which such milk is sold, which
is hereby authorized to issue licenses
under this act Before granting such IL
cense, the state board of health, or their
agents, or said local board of
health, shall make, or cause to be made,
a thorough inspection and examination
of the cows producing such milk or
cream, of the barns, stables and premises
where such cows are kept, OF all pals,
cans and measures used in connection
with such business, and Of the neatness
and cleanliness with which such milk or
cream is obtained and dispensed. Such
licenses shall not be granted unless such
cows are in healthy condition, nor I'M
less the barns, stables, premises and
utensils used in conection Herewith are
in good sanitary condition nor unless
such milk and cream is obtained and sold
in neat and clcaniy manner; and ir
the state board OF health certify to the
board of health Of any town that per-
son named therein should not be granted
a license, license shall not be granted
such person"
So far as known, very little attention
has been paid to the enactment about
The state, although in Rutland the mat
len has been referred to the city coun.
Ill. which, in turn, referred it to the
board of health when the new board shall |
have been appointed.