St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-04-13
tuberculosis Beef.
L B. Johnson Maintains That 1t Should be
Branded In Market.

y
Branded In Market.
To the Editor of The Burlington Free
Press:
In your issue of to-day I notice a COM
munication from DIR. r. o. Brock of your
city. government expert stationed at the
Burlington Rendering Co.'S plant, in
which he refers to recent editorial in
The Randolph Herald and News that
dealt with the present method of dispos-
ing of tuberculosis cattle.
While freely admitting lack of special
knowledge of the precise methods used
at the rendering plant for inspecting dis
eased meat, do claim to know some
things bearing on the subject, that are
matters of common understanding in
Vermont. Among them are the following:
That disease known as bovine tuber-
culosis exists among cattle in this state.
That the disease is dangerous to herds,
which if allowed to continue and spread,
it declmates, also communicating other
herds, as opportunity permits.
That meat from tuberculosis animals is
not generally considered healthful or
wholesome, and may even produce in the
human being who eats of it a disease akin
to that of the cattle
That in view of these conditions the
state of Vermont has since 1890 spent
it, and is still continuing the costly work
That the policy has been, and still is,
for the state to test suspected herds, and
if the result indicates the disease, to ''con-
denim" the cattle, pay the owner of them
at an appraised value, and require them
to be killed.
That, under the present law, it is per-
mitted for the state cattle commissioners
to send the animals alive to the Burling-
ton rendering plant, inasnuch as it has
the service OF a bureau of agriculture in
spector.
That there, under direction of that
officer, the carcasses of the animals, after
being slaughtered, are examined and in
spected.
That certain portions are used in the
preparation of fertilizers, poultry food,
ETC., where there is no chance of contain
ination resulting.
That in certain animals slightly affect
ed, or where the disease is localized, !"
portions of the carcass, pronounced free
from infection, are sold by the rendering
company to retailers as pure beef.
That such meat, without any proper
distinguishing mark to show its history,
is sold to the public.
The mere statement of this chain of
facts is alone sufficient. It matters not
what scientific methods of inspection, or
distinguished precedent may be claimed.
But if more is needed it might be added:
That in the political canvass of 1906
it was charged that, under a very
similar system, meat from tuberculosis
cattle was being sold through the same
rendering company.
That the attorney-generalh finally COM
PEELED the company to produce its books,
after criminal process and the imposition
of fines.
That, as the outgrowth of the agita-
ton, certain well-meaning state officials
who had been engaged in the trans
action were themselves fined.
And, that now the state of Vermont
has gone squarely back on itself and is
engaged in the same questionable bust
ness on its own hook, using the same
company as the selling agent.
Most of US, irrespective of 6ne-spun
theories, will agree with Doctor Mead in
this matter, if on no other, that we don't
want any meat whatsoever condemned
and paid for by the state as unwhole-
some, or taken from any animal so con-
demned, to be put upon US unawares.
Very truly,
L. B. JOHNSON.
Randolph, VT, March 80, 1910.