Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-08
MILK IS TO BE Pure
Steps to Stamp Out Tubercu-
Iosis in Cattle.
TESTS FOR DISEASED COWS
Infected Animals Condemned, APP
praised and Paid For-Keeps Out
Bad Meat Also.

There is much bovine tuberculosis
among cows which supply milk to the
District of Columbia. Under the regula-
tions which went into effect November
n an effort Il being made to weed out
affected COWS and stop production OF
tubercular milk.
However, there Is nothing new In the
situation, as the reports OF the health Of
ace will show. In The Star of October
was published an account Of the new
regulations concerning the shipment OF
any cattle into the District.
Barriers thrown about bovine tubercu-
losis by the regulations would seem al
most perfect.
Conditions Worse Near City.
DR.. Woodward said this morning that
comes from about 10000 cows. OF course,
the greater number OF these is outside
of the District. Percentage Of tubercu-
losds as a rule is greater in cattle located
nearer to the city.
Where cows are closely herded, where
land Is valuable and cattle sheds crowd
ed, the disease Is rampant. On the noun
tain tops OF Maryland and Virginia. where
q COW has a ten acre lot, plenty OF sun
shine, fresh water and does not know
what a cattle shed is. the tuberculosis
germ Is rarer.
The bureau of animal industry has re-
Gently found way to make tuberculin
tests on all cattle in which the District
of Columbia Is interested. The law re-
curing tuberculin tests of all cattle to be
used for dairy or slaughtering purposes
meets the rigid requirements OF the most
raaoid pure food enthusiast.
M
however, for the Districts needs in this
direction. Secretary Wilson has round
q way. nevertheless, to go about 1t. What
ever will he done, the Districts health
Office Is satisfied.
Infected Cattle Condemned.
It is now necessary for every cattle
owner to have his herds submit to a
tuberculin test. If the reaction shows
the presence of tuberculosis, the bureau
of animal Industry reports to the health
officer of the District, who follows the
matter up with his corps OF inspectors
to see that no more milk from the in
fected cows reaches the city.
The inspectors condemn the infected
cattle. A pair of appraisers, one appoint
ed by the Department OF, Agriculture and
the other by the health department, ap-
praises the cow. If the owner Is not sat
isfied with the price a third appraiser Is
chosen by the other two to arbitrate the
matter.
A limit Of about $50 Is set for cows
Also If a cow is badly diseased the ap-
praisement takes that fact into consid-
GRAFTON and the farmer Is credited with
the price Of a diseased animal.
AS the law works with equal force
against tubercular beef, there is not much
chance of any Of the condemned cows
appearing in the market in the form OF
steak and roasts.
The report Of the health Office for the
year ending June 80, 1909, shows that
certain dairy farmers with blue ribbon
herds, supposedly in the pink Of condi-
ton, voluntarily sought tnberculin tests
for their cattle. OF this number forty
nine proved to be infected.
That is a smaller percentage than is
found in some crowded sections where
the herds are far below the blue ribbon
class and where the owners of the cattle
aI6 distinctly not anxious that the in
spectors shall apply the test.