East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-05-15

Washington.-The reports Of the
bureau of animal industry of the
United States department of agrlcul-
ture indicate that tuberculosis among
livestock is steadily increasing, as
shown by the number of animals
found affected at the various slaugh-
tering centers. The increase in the
number Of cases found is due in part,
but only in part, to the increased ef-
ficiency of the method of inspection.
The meat inspection figures show that
nearly per cent of hogs slaughtered
are tubcrculous, which is surely an
alarming condition.
Feeding and experiments conducted
by the bureau have proved conclus-
lively that hogs are readily infected
through the injection OF feces and milk
from tuberculous cows. There is
therefore no doubt that the prevalence
of the disease in hogs could be great
ly reduced simply by eradicating 1t
from cattle.
Testing Cattle.
Considerable testing of cattle has
been done in Washington, d. c., and
vicinity for the purpose of assisting
the district authorities in obtaining
pure milk supply, and of obtaining
for the bureau further information
regarding the extent of tuberculosis
in the locality and for other purposes.
In these tests about II per cent of the
dairy cattle reacted.
The percentage of tuberculosis in
various states, shown by tests con-
Quoted by the officials in those states
with bureau tuberculin, indicates that
from 2.79 to 1869 per cent OF the
cows react, and II Is estimated that
in the country at large at least 10
per cent of the COWS in dairy herds
are tubercuous.
The recent agitation against the
milk Of tuberculous cows as human
food has had the effect of causing
many herds to be examined, with as
tonishing results, not only to the
owners. but to the officials them
selves Can it be wondered at that
SO many infants and children die OF
intestinal tuberculosis when so many
OF the cows from which milk is OBJ
tanned are tuberculous?
Argcntina's Rules.
Without considering the matter as
a public health question, but looking
at it entirely from an economical
standpoint and as a business propo-
sition, livestock raisers cannot afford
to have tuberculosis in their herds
AS an illustration, Argentina requires
that all cattle imported into that
country shall be subjected to the tu-
berculin test upon arrival, and as a
consequence exporters from the Unit
ed States have had the test made on
cattle intended for shipment. The
results of these tests showed that in
some of the pure bred herds nearly
so per cent of the animals were dis
eased and in consequence sales were
lost
When the practice becomes gener-
al for all buyers OF breeding cattle to
have animals tested before placing
them in their herds the breeders of
strictly healthy cattle will be much
sought after. Already some breeders
of pure bred cattle have established
or are arranging to establish such
herds. AS soon as the breeders fully
understand the fact that II is unprofit-
able to go on breeding cattle while
tuberculosis evists in their herds much
OF the objection raised against the
sale of livestock subject to inspection
will disappear, for it would be worth
the price of several condemned ami
mails for the owner of valuable herd
to know the fact as early as possible
IL the disease existed in his herd, as
the longer he delays in taking steps
to prevent its spread the greater will
be his loss eventually. Figures for
the last year, secured from abattoirs
where federal inspection is maintain
ed show that over 10000 900, 900
pounds Of meat was inspected 46,OO0,-
600 pounds of which was condemned,
nearly three fourths being for tuber-
culosis.
Serious situation.
The recent effort of the large pack |
ing interests to buy all dairy cows
subject to post-mortem inspection
shows how serious the plague is be-
coming. Sooner or later the man who
raises tubercuous animals must suf-
fer the loss, unless the loss is paid for
out of public funds; and, when the
loss is placed upon the producer we
may then know that the end of the
disease is in sight.
It may at some time be necessary
for the federal government to quaran-
tine against interstate shipments Of
cows from certain states where the
disease prevails to a considerable ex-
tent, and require a strict supervision
over all animals removed from such
states for interstate shipment, and
only remove the quarantine from Sec
tions of the state when 1t has been
demonstrated that the disease either
has been eradicated or is under strict
local quarantine.