The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-14
TAKE NO ACT|ONO ON
TUBERCUL|N TEST
Board of Health Hears From
Dairymcn and Physicians
at Long Session.
PASTEURIZATI0N DISCUSSED
Fact Brought Out That Butchers
Buy Diseased Meat for
Lower Price.
DISCUSSED

Dairymcn. physicians and others in
icrcstcd were heard last night at tho
monthly meeting OF tho Board OF
Health in connection with the testing
OF cattl" in order TO prevent the sale
in Richmond OF milk from diseased
cows. Some time ago il was decided
by tho board that on and after Sep
iemher -. 1915. all herds supplying
Eichmond with milk should lie sub
icctcd to tho tubcrculin test There
has been Il recent clamor TO begin the
testing At an earlier date. and this Ia
being opposed by most Of the dairy
men. For nearly three hours the
board listened 10 opinions. and after
~ brief executive session. decided TO
postpone action for two weeks.
During the progress OF tho hearing
il was brought out by nr. Moses d.
Hope. Jr. 4 member Of the board. that
Richmond butchers buy from the
dairymen tho carcasscs OF cattle which
have been condemned as diseased ut
less prices than they pay for healthy
meat. but they sell II to the consumer
for the same rate they get for beef
in good condition.
BtTCHERS PAY LESS
FOR DISEASED BEE:F
Il have heard" said Dr.. Hoyc. in
terruptinS the business in hand. that
1t il the practice of butchers TO buy
diseased meat from dairymcn for half
the price they pay for healthy cattle.
and that they sell it at the prevailing
market price. Now that the dairymen
are here. I would like 10 have it made
known whether this Is true"
William Milan dairyman. said It
was true. "rhey buy 1t for less
price" he declared.
For half price asked DR. Hoge.
For a less price corrected Mr..
Il merely thought this would he a
good opportunity 10 bring out this
point" commented Or. Hoge as the
milk question was again resumed.
At the request OF the board, a COM
mittee from the Dairymcn's Associa
ton OF Richmond was present. IT was
composed of the following members:
w !. Burlec. chairman; James Bell
wood. Thomas l.. Blanton. John L.
Miller, William NJ Milan and Harry
Beattie. There We're also present
many other dairymen and several ply
sicians.
Each member Of the committee spoke
and each asked the board not to
change its plan to require testing UNI
til the date set, September Is, 1915.
AT"TEMI"r no FIND
PERCENTAGE OF DISEASE
several times attempts were made TO
find out the percentages OF COWS in the
which are inflated Win tuIerculnsis
No one was willi.-G 10 make any den-
mite statement. II was asserted. how
ever, that in NirElnia- bred cattle the
percentage was about . per cent. II
was added that much of the milk stock
was imported from New York, and that
frequently animals from that State
We're infected. which incrcascd this
figure. 1t was freely remarked that
COWS suffering from tuberculosis were
shipped to this state. This means that
the animals were imoculatcd. and that.
therefore. would not react when tested
within two or three weeks afterward.
In this manner the cattle were passed.
oven after examination and tests by
Federal inspectors.
The question OF pasteurization was
also discussed At lenSt.. but no con-
clusion was reached.
The cooperation between the Board
Of Health and the dairymcm." said Or.
T.. {. Levy. CHIEF Health officer, at the
conclusion of the meeting: is most
hearty. This is a matter of deep con-
Germ. and the board will give ii ma
ture consideration before taking action.
1t Is not the wish of the members TO
do ANYTHING prcctpitate"
HAVE AROUSED PUBLIC
In opening the meeting pr w; r.
II had not been the boards purpose to
20 into tho matter at this time, but.
he said. the public has been aroused
over newspaper accounts of tho situa-
ton. Nv g recognize the Importance of
the questionable health of the com
nunity. and especially that of the chill
The dairynen predicted that If the
board decided TO begin the testing At
an early date. II viii probably result
ply. it hciuG admitted that many cows
would react from the test and could
l; was pointed out that new herds must
he raised, il WAS difficult TO buy
cattle free from infection
rs 70 the Nalu" of pastcurization rs u
~ ~ N l.
tn" milk. the dairymen were not pre-
pared to say.
than the date prescribed y ain daily
seeing children who live on milk sup
piled from the Richmond dairics." he
said. and they seem to thrive upon
IL. You have careful and close in
spection OF the cows aud stables and
see no reason for haste.
SEES No REASON FOR
itYSTERIt OVER SUPPLY
pr. Newton said thnJ, In his opinion.
general pastcurzation might have a
value. IL can see no reason for any
hYstcria over the milk supply of Rich
mond. he said. You row have bet
ter milk than ever before; il has been
constantly improving during the past
I'VE or six years. ~ for pnstcuriza ton,
+ think that II would give To the pub
lie a falls" security"
Questioned, pr Newton said that II"
kn"w OF no fatal results 10 children
from boyinc ,uherrcuiin,, hncillus
Health Commissioner. Who was an at
tcntivo spectator. was allowed the
privilege OF the floor. and asserted
that tuberculosis in COWS was positive
" dangerous, and that milk should
not he distributed until after cows
had been tested. or else II was pastcur-
ized. lie added that the public
should know which diaries pasteurizc
their product.
br. ST. George Z, ,;rinnan said that
he had always been able TO trace tu-
hcrculiu meningitis In children 10 an
adult. ana that, IN his opinion il was
never contracted by q child becoming
Infected with bovine tuberculosis pr
9. G. Haskell. OF tn" Medical College
"f Wig nia. said that eases OF inrcc-
don Of bovine tuberculosis in children
were extremely rare.
Tie resignation OF Aubrey II S;raus
as city I3actcriologist. effective on
August !. was accepted. and DR.. Levy
was instructed To temporarily iii the
9nice pcndinS action by the board