The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-12-01
FIGHTING DISEASE
ON The FARM
Scientific Methods Of State
Board in Protecting Live
Stock investments.
PLANS SAVING OF MILLIONS

Vigorous Campaign Against Bovine
Tuberculosis-VaIue of Laboratory
Work to Stockmen and Veterinar-
ians.
A state board at Harrisburg pro
poses to save the farmers of Penn
sylvania five million dollars a year.
It IL estimated that the farmers of this
s.s-,o annually lose live stock worth
thsi amount of money by diseases
wh:c. can be prevented. The State Live
Stock Sanitary Board has rendered
valuable service to the Pennsylvania
farmer since its organization fourteen
years ago, but it's work appears to
have only begun. The last census
shows that there are 206,975 farms in
Pennsylvania, and that the value of
the live stock on these farms is $133,-
$4,000. The plans of the state board
to protect this investment from pre-
ventable losses from disease are be-
ing closely followed, not only by live
stock raisers and breeders of the
United States, but by those abroad.
Pennsylvania was the first state to
organize and properly equip a labor
atory where diseases of animals could
be studied and recognized. 1t has
proven of inestimable value to stock
men and veterinarians. 1t is located
at the veterinary school in Philadel
phia, where all possible facilities are
employed to study the mysterious dis
eases of animals. The laboratory Is
under the direction of DR.. Karl F.
Meyer, who was trained in the best
schools of continental Europe. DR..
Meyer also has charge of experiment
tai work on the state farm, which is
located in Delaware County. He, with
his staff of qualified assistants, are
engaged in studying the diseases of
domestic animals in Pennsylvania. At
the same time they are engaged in the
preparation of many test fluids, such
as tuberculin, mallein, ETC., for the
diagnosis of disease. The preparation
of vaccine and sera for all diseases
against which preventive vaccination
measures can be taken, are made in
accordance with the latest advance
ments of science.
Wide Range of Laboratory Work.
Since Jan. 1, 1911, $4,000 doses OF
tuberculin, 1000 doses of anthrax vac
cine and sixty gallons of hog cholera
serum have been prepared in the lab
oratory and distributed among Penn
sylvania farmers free of cost. These
three products alone, if purchased in
the market, would have cost practi
cally $4,000; more than half the
amount of money appropriated foI
laboratory work for the next two
years. Hog cholera causes the larg
est proportionate loss of any disease
of swine, and this industry represents
a money value of over six million dol
lars. Much of the laboratory work
has been done under adverse circum
stances, but ample facilities are now
provided for doing the work under the
best and safest conditions and much
better results may be expected in the
future.
During the period referred to the
laboratory examined $50 pathological
specimens sent in by local practition
ers. In many cases the cause of the
disease was discovered and valuablt
information furnished for handling it
The diseases caused by poisonous
plants and parasites have been made
the subject of special investigation
The laboratory has gained an interna
tional reputation on account of it's tu
berculosis research work, and it is
hoped that with the improved facili
ties and equipment furnished by the
state that it will take a prominent
place among those of the countries oi
Europe in veterinry research work.
The fight of the board against bo
vine tuberculosis is an impressive fea
ture of its efficient service to the cat
tie industry. This was one of the first
animal diseases to receive the boards
attention. The plans for handling il
were carefully made and judiciously
executed. The first tuberculin testins
in America was done by the late DR.
Leonard Pearson, and a vigorous
campaign against this disease has
been directed.
Menace of Bovine Tuberculosis.
The laws and rules regulating
the boards work are recognized
as the best by veterinarians through
out the country, Recently dur
ing six weeks 3742 head of cattle
brought into Pennsylvania for dairy
purposes were submitted to the test
OF this number twenty-three failed tt
pass the test. During the same periot
952 native cows were tested for farm
ers and forty were condemned anC
safely eliminated from the herds
Dealers are becoming more in sympa
thy with the work of testing animals
properly before offering them for sale
Dairymen are much more careful II
purchasing dairy cattle that are fret
from tuberculosis than they were for
merly. The most intelligent realiz,
that dairy business cannot be con
Quoted prottably unless the disease
is checked
The importance of keeping tubercu