Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-02-24
BEWARE OF THE rueERcuLIN
FRAUD.


1
FRAUD.
(From the Cedar Rapids Republican,
The farmers of Iowa have a vital
interest in the agitations over tuber-
culin tests which are now the vogue.
The truth of the matter is that as yet
there Is no certainty in these tests.
Nothing has been established by them
that is definite or upon which should
be based any wholesale slaughter of
cows. Scientific men understand this.
amroad better than they do here. In
France, we believe, the whole move
ment rests under something of a
cloud. 1t has not resulted in any
good. What is called the reaction in
animals, upon the application Of the
tuberculin, whatever that is, is not a
sure indicator. It does not always
act in the same way, not even in the
same animal. In this connection we
want to republish the experience with
Ii fine Jersey COW at Williamsburg,
the story of which is told by B. H.
Hakis in a newspaper report, as fol.
lows:
A neighbor of ours had his cattle
tested just one year ago. One COW, al
Jersey. 8 years old, that had cost him
$3.50, made a plain reaction and was
condemned, and as last Friday and
Saturday were the days of our farm
ers' institute the owner of this COW
offered to have her slaughtered for|
an object lesson. provided there could
be raised money enough to hire al
state veterinarian to come and see
her slaughtered and then tell the in.
stitute people something about this
dread disease in cattle. The money
was raised in less than five minutes.
So on Saturday the COW was taken
to our local slaughter house and]
killed. Dr. Griffith of Cedar Rapids
and local veterinarian looked for
one hour. but failed to find anything|
that they would call tuberculosis.
There was near fifty men present.
and all declared they never saw al
healthier cow killed. The glands OIL
TIE neck and her liver. lungs and en-
trails. and also her udder were pers|
feet.
All those present were disappoint-l
ed and disgusted at such wantonI
less of so innocent a cow. Yet vel
were doomed to another disappoint
ment, as the veterinarians could not
be induced to tell US anythign or toI
come to our meeting. Well, we could
hardly blame them. This brings upl
memories of past. How many Of theI
older farmers Of Iowa remember the
scare we had some twenty years agol
about triehina in hogs. So intensei
was the scare that we all quit eatingl
hog meat and many of, the old coun-
tries placed an embargo on our pork.
and it is there vet. At one time II
sold hogs for $2.10 per hundred
weight and cattle for $3.50 That
was a great medical discovery. but it'll
cost the farmers Of the United States
many millions of dollars. Yet wei
have Just as much trichina today as
We had then.So 1t will be with this
great medical discovery after it has
cost the people millions it will go
with the other great medical discov-I
cries. If this experiment is kept upI
long enough we will be eating horses
and dogs. as they are in many of the
old countries today. Milk will dou-
BILE in price, and the farmers who are
losing at present will reap their re-
ward, for these things will react and
the consumer will have to foot the
bills. B. H. HAKIS.
Before we proceed with wholesalel
slaughters and with the spread OF
doubts as to the healthiness OF both
milk and beef, we should have more
definite information. The movement
is just now in the faddish state. The
cranks have hold of it and they are
working it for all it is worth to them
regardless of the farmers. There is
bovine tuberculosis, but such men as
Koch doubt whether it is ever, GER
tainly rarely, communicated to hu-
man beings. They want more light
OH the subject. Agitators and legis-
lators should not grasp this scientific
discovery too suddenly. They can do
more harm than good. Let US getI
more light. In the meantime farm
ers should give all their animals
pure food and pure air and sunshine.
in winter as well as in summer. and
that will help some, great deal, in
fact.
Every SO often the American peo-l
pie get new fad--very we'll, but letl
us not all go crazy over it. Prove I'll
first.