Evening journal., 1913-12-16
CONTROL
OF DISEASE
DR.. HOuChin Thinks Governor
Should Help In Treatment Of
Domestic Animals
SPEAKER SHOWS WEAKNESS
OF ST TIE CONTROL

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
NEWARK, Del, Dec. l6.--Before the
Newark Grange last night DR.. Arthur S.
Houchins secretary Of the State Veterin-
ary Society made an interesting address
on the subject; Federal Control OF
Contagious Diseases Among Domestic
Animals Dr. Houchin was recently
appointed by Governor Miller a member
OF the State Board of Veterinary Ex-
amners TO succeed DR.. James x. Ma
hahy of Wilmington. His address fol-
lows
Whenever federal control is advocat-
ed, whether it be government ownership
OF railroads or what not, the objection is
raised that state rights are being in
fringed upon But in the matter OF
federal control of contagious diseases
no infringement ia intended, rather a
shifting of responsibility from the
states to the central government, and a
better working plan for unified control.
Up to the present time no state has
been able to cope with any serious out
break Of a contagious disease without
federal aid
"When any attempt is made to con-
troI the sale OF diseased cattle or hogs
we are told that to forbid such sale
would be too much OF a hardship upon
the farmer. II is not the farmer, how
ever, who thus argues; it is the unscrup-
ulous dealer who starts the cry and then
tries TO make the farmer think his way.
Or perhaps one person has bought dis
eased animals ndfnding them unprofit-
able wishes to shift them to someone
else. Commercial transfer of diseased
animals may relieve the so-called hard
ship of the farmer but what about the
injustice done TO the consumer He
has some rights. Is it to be considered
Just. honest and proper. to force upon n
public, food which we know will leave
marks of disease and perhaps death
Politics are apt TO play too prominent
part at times and by easing up on
SOME popular dealer 20 prevent him
talking too much is a bad policy; yet
by some il may be considered good poll
tics.
Estate veterinarians. as a rule, try 10
do their duty but how often are they
halted by complaint from some unex-
pected quarter; someone warts to sell
unit animals either for food or for
dairy purposes Some states have very
strict laws regarding the bringing in OF
animals within the state. 1t is more
often the case that there are lax laws
regarding the shipping of animals out Of
the state. II is a comparatively easy
matter to cross the state line regardless
of the law The State of PENNSYLVANIA
and a few other states have regularly
appointed inspectors whose duty it Is to-
see that the provisions of the law are
carried out, but in other states there
4 is no inspection and no one will assume
the responsibility TO prosecute the Of
/ Tenders because fearing their acts would
be regarded as a personal matter
"The weakness OF state control Is
shown. when we realize that the good
work done in one state having inspectors
is undone by the lax methods of an ad-
joining state.
"Some states pay for the cohdemna.
tion OF diseased animals, Others do not,
and this fact alone causes bad feeling
along the border line of states. 1 have
often heard it said in "a state which
does not pay for the loss OF animals
that the farmer would be willing to
have his cows tested if his ncighbor
was compelled to submit to. the same
test. Under federal control there would
not be any question as to who would
be paid for the loss along the border
lines of states and all would have to
submit to the same regulations in con-
trolling contagious diseases. The ex'
pense of federal control would be much
less than if each state undertook to do
1 the work as IL should DE DONE