Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-12-12
ESTABLISHED 1856
WHAT finds IN BIG WEST
MEAT INSPECTION IN LARGE CITY
REVEALS MUCH
DIR. Minshan Writes of His Trip to the Cost
Visits Old Friends Enrnute-Tells of
His New Work
Portland. oregon. December 2. 1917

Portland Oregon, December 2, 1917.
Dear Mr. Munson: Thought perhaps that
some % our old friends in Wisconsin might
be glad at least interested, to know that
we are still alive. So far are enjoying the
climate The weather has been real warm
and dry have only had few frosts so far
and the roses still in bloom.
We look forward to receiving the Censor
every week, and certainly enjoy reading it.
Il is very gratifying 70 note TIE stand the
eounyt is taking the road proposition. Yer-
non county is certainly very backward about
of the Dakotas and Montana where you could
not see living thing. but still the road was
good We enjoyed short visit with the
kuehns on their ranch in Montana. They
have fine place and seem TO like it. Also
sawSee Me Baker and Sam Jackson at Bill
ings. Stopped over night with Carl Anderson
at LavIna, and had short visits with Banks.
Brennens, Ole Helgeson. Tom Hill and many
others from OLD Vernon. All were well and
happy.
| am very much interested in my new work
City inspection Of meats was inaugurated
about three years ago. Dr. Ernest Z. Chase.
formerly of LaFarge, is chief. There
uate veterinarians. We inspect a, the meats
that are not inspected by the overnment.
During the month of November We inspected
about 1000 carcasses- We find quite a good
deal Of tuberculosis among cattle. hogs and
chickens. | know many people do not realize
that hogs and chickens have tuberculosis. but
it Is a fact and ] am very sorry TO think that
Wisconsin is so backward in cleaning up that
terrible disease. Wisconsin is noted as a
dairy state, but IS ciassed second in animals
affected with tuberculosis
Did you know that the last outbreak of foot
and mouth disease cost the United States
SO. 600, 900, and how the people worked
up about il. Animal tuberculosis alone causes
loss every year Of over $4,000, 600. and still
slow in creating laws To stamp it
out. Tilamook county, Oregon, one Of the
largest dairy counties in the state, has a county
veterinarian and all the cattle are tested
cry year. BY this system they hope to clean
it out. tuberculosis can be eradicated. bat
the testing must be done by who not only
understands the test thoroughly, but the dis
ease itself. That was what killed the test in
Wisconsin. when they allowed anyone to make
the test who could read a thermometer. A
great many cattle were killed, that did not
have the disease. Mistakes are made by vet
erinarans, but the percentage is small when
compared with that done by laymen.
At the present time only about go per cent
Of all the meat consumed is government in
spected. andin the Mississippi valley S.22 yer
cent Of the cattle and i0ls per cent Of the
hogs have tuberculosis. Can you imac me the
amount of diseased animals that eaten
every year. especially by the people in the
smaller towns and tuberculosis is only one in
many which is very injurious to public health.
Only the other day | condemned a hog which
weighed 254 pounds and il looked fine, but on
examination found it TO be affected with
pyemia. a disease Of the bones. All siaught-
err houses are required to maintain certain
standard Of sanitation.
! hope that the time is not very far distant
when the government will require that all
meat be properly inspected. Portland is con-
sidered having one Of the best systems of
meat inspection the coast. Medical men
claim that intestinal diseases have been prac-
tically eliminated, and the death rate in chill
dreu has been greatly reduced since meat in
spection has been in force.
Every one on the coast is doing his her
bit in this terrible war and trust II will soon
lie over / presume that by this time some Of
our own boys are in France.
Kindly remember as TO all our friends IN
old Wisconsin. Respectfully yours
CHESTER A. MLNSHAlsL.