Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-12-16
LOSS OF rs
Head Of Cattle by Maine
Insane Hospital
OF Bovine tuberculosis Causes
aemOdeIing Cow Barn
With Sanitary Steel Stalls, lndiyidu-
al Managers and Buckets.

The loss by the Maine Insane hos
pital of Is head of cattle from tuber
culosis has finally caused action to be
taken in regard to remodeling the in
terror of the main COW barn after the
most approved modern methods. intro
ducing sanitary steel stalls and chang
ing the method of feeding and water
ing, as the old method is believed to
have had great deal to do with the
spread of the disease. This work has
already begun and will probably be
completed early in January.
The history of the fight against boz
vine tuberculosis in the hospital herd
goes back over a period of a number
of years. 1t viii be remembered that
the Legislature of 1907 recommended
the destruction of the entire herd of
cattle at the hospital on account OF tu-
berculosis and made appropriation for
the establishment of a new herd in the
same quarters, after period of nearly
a year, and would only permit the use
of the old barn after most thorough
disinfection.
A new herd was then purchased, aft
er tine barns had been put in what was
believed to be perfect shape and salts
factory to the cattle commissioners
When new herd was purchased from
different sections of the State each an
imal was carefully tested by reputa-
bic veterinarians or the veterinary
employed by the institution. In each
case particular care was used in the
selection of the animals and all We're
passed sound when they came to the
institution.
In the course of year bovine tuber-
culosis developed here and there and
the animals found to have tubercu-
loSis We're eliminated, but the progress
of the disease, which is rapid and quite
contagious, gradually increased among
the herd until the larger portion We're
infected and it was deemed best by
the hospital trustees and by Governor
Plaisted aud his Council to order the
elimination of the affected cattle as
soon as shown by the tuberculin test,
until all should be changed: to again
undertake the establishment of a new
herd and to retain only those animals
that were found to be sound after
careful testing, and the herd of young
heifers that are now being kept in 9TH
er quarters.
The cause of the spread of the dis
ease seems clearly attributable to the
method of feeding and watering by
continuous troughs and consequently
the trustees have finally determined to
use what is considered by experts to
be the most modern sanitary indiyid-
ual method of feeding and watering.
The cattle at the hospital, which
have been disposed of on account OF
tuberculosis, are grade Holsteins, Jer-
sevs, Guernseys and Ayshires and are
valued at from $50 to SIS each. Since
the establishment of the general rem
dering plant for handling bones, grease
and kitchen waste it has been possible
to dispose Of the slaughtered cattle at
the hospital rendering works, where
they arc worth from $i2 TO SIS, but even
at that the loss was a heavy one. The
hospital now has only about SO cat
tie in it's herd and two-thirds of these
are heifers that have not been at all
with the infected herd.
The Remodeled Barn.