Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-01-28
THE WHITE PLAGUE.
Appearance Of This MaIady Among
Cattle Creates Fear.
ACTION TO Be TAKEN
To Drive tuberculosis From Michigan Cattle
State and County Aid Sought.

AT the meeting of the Michigan
Live Stock Breeders association held
at Lansing last week. Prof J. j.
Ferguson of Chicago, gave very in
teresing and profitable address upon
the theme. individual aud Stat
Methods of Eradicating tuberculosis in
Cattle" After a general discussion of
bovine tuberculosis and its economic
loss in this country. Prot. Fergeson dis
cussed methods of preventing and
eradicating the disease. He said in
part:
The problem of eradicating tuber-
culosis is of individual and state
interest. The part of the individua |
farmer lies in maintaining sanitary
premises: in breeding only healthy
animals and refusing TO buy for breed
ing PURPOSES ANIMALS which have not
passed the tuberculin test. and
in seeing that the local creamery does
not act as central station for spread :
ing germs of tuberculosis from in
fected herds through the medium of
skim-milk and whey returned 10 the
farms.
State Legislation.
tuberculosis has long been a favor
ed theme for state legislation. MANY
radical, unwise and impracticable
state laws have been passed. aiming
at its control. The experience of
many states seems TO lead TO the fol-
lowing conclusions.
Il There should be state sanitary
live stock hoard or live stock COM
mission having authority over conta-
gious diseases. This commission should
have power,t to isolate quarantine. and
if necessary DESTROY affected subjects.
Such should not he allowed TO go to
pubic market for sale except subject
TO state regulation.
-. A state law should prohibit the
Importation of pure bred or grade
snimals for breeding PURPOSES within
the state unless accompanied bv certi-
ticate of health. Such laws are already
in operation in several states and
other states will shortly enact similar
legislation.
'3. A state law like that of Wis
consin. should compel pasteurization
of all dairy bi-products from cream
cries cheese factories. etc. before be-
ing returned TO the farm.
Compensation to Owners.
~ One of tine chief difficulties in
framing accountable legislation on
tuberculosis has heen the matter of
compensation 70 owners of infected
animals ordered slaughtered The ex-
perience of most states having law
carrying compensation has been that.
since the public health is charge of
the state il is only fair that the state
at large should help bear the burden
of individual loss. At the same time
the compensation feature has been
sadly over-worked in many cases. hav-
ing offered the means whereby unscru-
pulous men have marketed almost
worthless animals at may times their
actual value. While IL is true that "A
diseased animal unfit for breeding or
food purposes. is practically worth
less. many stockmen are willfully
resposible for the presence of the dis
ease in their herds. In Nebraska
tuuberculosis is being steadily eradi-
Gated without state CONDENSATION. y
Hon. ID. ID. Atkin of Flint. and
others prominent cattlemen of the
state also discussed the question of
compensation. and it is believed an
effort will be made TO incorporate
this feature into law. 1t is generally
conceded to be fair and just for the
state TO pay for live stock. which is
ordered killed TO prevent the spread
of the disease.
In speaking of this matter few
days.ago. Governor Warner said: II
believe il is right TO paw the owners
of stock for their cattle affected
with tuberculosis. in case the farmer
il not to hlame for the disease getting
hold of his heard said the COVER
nor. In other words. if the farmer
keeps his premises In good sanitary
condition. paw him for the cattle. If
an inspection reveals that he has not
kept his barn clean.then he should not
be recompensed.
In this way premium is placed
on cleanlinss and sanitation which
would more than recompense the state
fer the cost of such cattle. I don't
think however, that a stockman who
fails to take proper care of his cattle
should be paid Cor affected stock. for
the conditions on his premises NAV be
the cause of the disease among the
cattle.