The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-31
GREAT INTEREST IN
THE MILK SUPPLY
Department Officials Demand
Pure Dairy Products
TUBERCULOUS CATTLE
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson Has
Given the Crusade In District of
Columbia His Personal Atten-
tion-Many Cattle Killed
Ry JONATHAN WINFIELD

BY JONATHAN WINFIELD
| Washington, July. S0.-tSpecial.)-
Probably no other area of territory II
the United States has been more affect
ed by the war against tuberculous cat
tie that that section occupied by dairy
men serving the District of Columbif
with milk and other dairy products
This territory includes sections of tn
| Virginias Maryland, and Delaware ant
| from the herds of cows grazing In then
hundreds of animals found to be af
fected with tuberculosis have beer
taken and condemned In the past year
| Not only does the farmer or dairy
man living in these sections have tbs
health department of the National cap
ital to deal with, but also the depart
ment of agriculture. specifically the
bureau of animal industry which has
been exceedingly active during ths
past II months. That the Federal gov
eminent should take such an interest
in the condition of the milk served al
the tables in the District is due to the
fact that members of Congress and
government officials are generally In
terested in the product daily used by
them and their families.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson has
given the crusade his personal atten-
| ton, with the result that all laws gov
erning the production of milk have
been more rigidly enforced than ever.
| Then again, 1t seems to be the plan OF
| the department to make the milk sup
| ply of the national capital a model for
the authorities of other cities to pat
| tern after. To have healthy cows sup
plying milk to the residents of the
seat of federal government and to
have those animals affected with dis
ease treated according to law, is great
object lesson to the farmers and dairy
men supplying milk to other communi-
ties throughout the country.
In many instances whole herds of
cattle, apparently healthy, have been
ordered killed. A score or more of
dairymen have been compelled to give
up the milk business on account of not
being able to purchase cows that will
meet the demands of the agricultural
department and the health authorities
of the District. On the other hand,
those at the head of the crusade con-
tend that plenty of healthy COWS can
be bought In any part of the Virginias.
Maryland or Delaware, and regardless
o fthe numerous complaints filed they
have scrupulously continued their work.
carrying out the anti-tuberculosis law
to the letter.
The authorities have been attack ed
in numerous instances for their zeal
BUSINESS, and it has often been the con-
tention of lawyers and owners of cattle
that many animals killed as diseased
were in reality -healthier than animals
permitted to live. All these allegations
have been refuted, however, by the tu-
berculosis test which II 1t reacts means
the death of the animal tested, no mat
ter what the owner or his attorney
produces as evidence that the animal
is not infected.
Another feature of the crusade which
has helped lend interest and jealous
ness to the fight against animals found
to be infected with tuberculosis has
been that of the experimental station
of the bureau of animal industry,
which is located a few miles from
Washington. Here healthy and diseased
cows alike are tested to see what eff
feet this or that kind of food, hay and
grass or other edibles will have on
them.
Here. too, numerous animals are kept
Milk taken from cows found to be in
fected with tuberculosis is fed to
guinea pigs and rabbits. Then the lit
tie animals are watched closely to see
If the disease develops. Not once dur
ing the past year, according to officials
at the experimental station, have the
small animals fed the milk taken from
diseased COWS survived for more than
several weeks. They develop the dis
t.,,w., %1I.r f.tr. L.
sions and gradually wasting away. In
many of these cases the cows from
which the milk Is taken have been
found to be in apparently good health
with the exception that they reacted
when tested with the tuberculosis Sc
rum.
The guinea pigs after being killed or
dying are dissected. BY this process
of dissolution some startling reyela-
lions have been made In every case
the lungs of the little creatures are
found to be badly infected with the
disease. Following close study by the
medical authorities in charge. the car
casses of the pigs and rabbits are pre-
served In alcohol and kept for object
lessons. In nearly every case where
a COW Is ordered killed and the owner
makes protest, he is requested to jour
ney to the experimental station and in
apStt Tic 3 ulHcd PISS anu otHci dhi-
mails to which the milk from animals
affected with tuberculosis has been fed.
When cows are condemned by the In
spectors they are sent to an abbatolr
to be slaughtered There they are ap-
praised by three persons and the gov
eminent to some extent reimburses the
dairyman for his loss.
wash down the COB and sprinkle
at the faces. These men go in every
place and return to the point at which
they started and make rounds just as
often as is possible. These men also
look after the sprays and move them
as often as is necessary; and, with
the aid of the local officials. exer-
else judgment SO as not to make the
places SO wet as to be unavoidable.
'In addition to the above method of
humidifying calcium chloride, or chlor-
ide of lime Is sprinkled in the COB In
40 per cent solution or 4 to l with
water The characteristic of this chem
ical Is that it will hold moisture re-
~ nr ir Ia f,tv fxa<l