The state herald., 1919-11-28

APT 70 Cohtr
prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture.l
With live stock and their products
on higher plane Of values than In
previous years there has come to
stockmen and farmers keener reali-
zation of the need to stamp out nnimal
diseases. This important development
In livestock raising was shown repeat.
edly ut the conference of state and
federal sanitary officials who assem-
bled In Chicago to discuss tubercu.
losis eradication.
Whereas In the past the unwilling
ness Of cattle owners to have their
herds tested In order to locate the
disease has been a limiting factor In
the work, now there are waiting lists,
and the problem confronting state and
federal officials is to meet the de-
mands. Coupled with that problem
is the need for improved methods Of
testing and a more uniform system OF
certifying to the health Of animals 10
that stock may be shipped Interstate
with a minimum of inconvenience and
delay.
First Conferences Of Its Kind.
The conference, called by the fed
eral bureau Of animal industry to dis.
cuss these Lroblems. was the first Of
Its kind, and l5S delegates from VA
riOus parts Of the country were In ut
tendance. In opening the meeting DR..
John X. Mohler. chief of the bureau,
emphasized the Importance Of conduct.
ing disease eradication In manner
that is practicable and workable Ms
well MS being scientifically correct.
Likewise he announced the desire II
the federal government to receive In
formation from all sources to supple
ment the work OF United Stntes de-
partment Of agriculture investigators.
A problem Of considerable Importance
is the tuberculin testing Of cattle at
public st0ckynrds. Such testing is
aimed to check trafYic In diseased un-
imals and to protect communities
which have little bovine tuberculosis
from Infection by cattle that are dis
eased or Of doubtful health. This con-
dition applies especially TO dairy stock
and to breeding cattle. but In prevent
ing interstate movement Of tubercn
lous animals. livestock sanitary Of
ticials recognize the need for doing
the work In the most expeditions man
ner.
Discuss Merits Of Tests.
In addition to the subcutnneous test.
which has been the most widely used
In detecting tuberculosis In livestock.
two other tests-the intradermal nni
ophthnlmic-received close study and
discussion. The intradernal test. in
he experience Of many Of the dele
gates. In especially useful In testing
range cattle and those which are un.
accustomed to handling. II has u
field Of usefulness. likewise. In very
hot or cold weather when the atmos.
pheric temperature makes difficult m
accurate diagnosis with the rubcu.
taneous test. which depends on II Sc
ries Of animal.temperature readings.
The ophthalmic. or eye test, Ia an
other means Of diagnosing tubercu.
iosls. This test is applied to one eye.
the other being left untrested for com.
parisOn. and characteristic appear.
ance indicates whether the disease In
present. The eye test thus far has
been used chiefly either In combInn.
tiOn with the other tests or NJ means
Of obtaining further evidence on sus-
plcious cases. The discussion indlcat.
ed the usefulness Of all three tests In
detecting tuberculosis In live Stock,
and when used In combination the
tests appear to he nm almost unfailIng
means Of diagnosing the disease. A.
q supplement to the conference. ex.
perimentni testing by the three meth.
ods wns conducted at the Union stock.
yards.
Accredited hsrd Plan Endorsed.
Delegates from all parts Of the coun.
try reported keen interest In their 10.
entities In the so-caiicd accredited
herd plan. under which the federal
state authorities grant II certificate TO
owners Of herds found 10 he free from
tuberculosis md which arc maintain
ed In n prescribed manner. The prin.
cIpie Of the plan wns warmly indorsed
ns u constructive mems of tubcrcu-
loris eradication. and the conference
favored Its continuance along present
lines or with additional requirements
That viii incrcnsc Its effectiveness. A
topic receiving special emphasis was
the need for painstnking and thorough
dislnfcctlon of premises where disenre
has been found. followed by continu.
Gus attention TO sanitation Of build.
ings md surroundings.
rvbsrcuiosls In Swine.
Erndicnilng tuberculosis from cnt.
tie viii practically solve the problem
of controlling the dIscnsc nmong
swine. That was The opinion Of vet
erinnfy experts experienced In ~"
hnnilinp and po'iinor'cn examination