The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-13
Tuberculine Test of Cows is
Unpopular With Pres
ent Administrations
OFFICER is INACTIVE
Flock Puts Soft Pedal on DIR.
Bonds Cleaning-up
Work.

Richmond residents. as a result OF
an agitation started several years ago
for a more sanitary and healthful milk
supply, for some time have hcen fond
ling the delusion that dairy Conditions
in this locality are all that they should
be.
Sanitary conditions at thirty or more
dairies supplying milk TO this city have
been improved greatly the last four or
five years through the activities of the
state pure food department. but not
more than three OF them supply milk
from tuberculine tested herds,
This astonishing information was
given out today by a well known farm
er living southeast OF the city, and
was substantiated by an investigation.
Ii also was learned that this condi-
tion of affairs has existed throughout
the present Zimmerman administra-
tion. In fact. il appears that City
Health Office Davis and Dairy Inspec-
tor Flock are greatly responsible for
the suppression OF the movement for
the tuberculine testing OF dairy herds.
after IL had been successfully launched
by former Health Officer Bond. and en-
couraged by former Dairy Inspector
Stewart.
Apply Soft Pedal.
Under the state law il is optional
with dairymen whether they shall
have their herds tuberculine tested.
and there is no provision in the city
dairy ordinance compelling such ac-
tion. City Health Officer Davis was TO
a great degree responsible for the pas
sage of the state law in question, az
ter he had succeeded DR.. Bond as city
health officer, and IL was learned to-
day that he and Inspector Flock, as
soon as they assume office under the
Zimmerman administration, notified
dairymen that the agitation started by
Dr. Bond for tuberculine tested COWS
would have the soft pedal" applied to
il.
This action was taken in face of the
fact that the influence OF DIR. Bond had
brought to bear on the dairymen was
bringing about the desired reform, al
though the dairymen legally were not
required to take such precautions TO
safeguard the health of their patrons.
They were merely yielding, one by one,
to public opinion, as voiced by DIR.
Bond.
Old Order Returns.
With the majority of the dairymen
the tuberculine testing of their herds
was Objectionable because they did not
want to kill the COWS on which the
test reacted. Consequently. when DIR.
Davis announced that the city health
office would not encourage the move
ment inaugurated by DR.. Bond his
edict was hailed with delight by near
ly all of the dairymen, who promptly
went back to the old order of things.
There was one dairyman. f. l.. Com
mons, the first one in the county, to
have his herd tuberculine tested. who
was impressed with the Importance OF
such reform, and he continued his pol
icy of herd testing, even though he
knew that IL did not meet with the
approval of his associates. DR.. Davis
and Inspector Flock. A year and q
half later he retired from the business.
his health impaired by the opposition
brought to bear on him.
6lames City Officials.
! Il hope the day is not far distant" T"
said Mr.. Commons today, when the
people OF Richmond are properly pro-
tected against tubercular dairy cows.
/ The city officials have done their best