Milford chronicle., 1920-08-13
NAY TAKE MONTHS TO PUT
CLEAN MILK LAW In FORCE
NO SERIOUS OBJECTIONS PRESENTED
AND FARMERS ARE GENERALLY
COOPERATING.

Not for many weeks, perhaps three
months, Will all the COWS in Delaware
have been tested for tuberculin faint
according to statements made by the
State Board of Health officials. While
the law requiring that all COWS shall
have been tested showing freedom
from tuberculosis, or else have the
milk pasteurized that producers sell
from their herds, became effective Au-
gust /, yet because of the inability to
test all the herds by this time. the
State Board will not be able 10 en-
force the test certificates for consld-
cradle time.
Hundreds of applications from far
mers seeking to have their herds
tested poured into the offices of thd
State board at Dover last week. 1t IS
estimated that there is enough work
ahead of the State Board at Dover,
for the government veterinarians
who are making the tests to keep
them busy for two and perhaps
three months.
The health officials are having trou-
BILE obtaining the data from each far
mer and retailer. A producer may
send in his name as a producer but
not state to whom he sells his milk.
The retailer may send in some of the
producers who sell to him, but not all
of them. Some Of the local boards of
health were slow in filing the names
Of producers and dealers and even
then the applications it is said were
net complete, so that there IS nuch
checking and re-checking necessary.
So far as the State health othclals
can observe, there is no genera
movement opposed to the law WIN
the exception of the Milk Producers
Association of New Castle county,
which met with the State Board Oh
Health at Dover last Thursday. Ihe
contention the producers nave clleu
&c objectionable was explained 10
their entire satisfaction. They want
ed TO know if they would be paid Ior
anv COWS killed because they are dis
eased. TO such questioners' the
state health officials say, that they
should be paid within months time
after the animal is killed. The state
pavs its bills once month anu
vouchers for the animals killed VIII
take the regular course in the state
financial system.
Kent County Cows 10 p. c. Diseased
One of the questions that arises dur
ing this period of regulating the mix
of the State, and also placing II on
basis that can compare with many
other commonwealths. is how many
cows are diseased, which fact would
indicate what percentage ol uahse eI
the citizens had been undergoing LOT
years. The results of the COW test
ing are in too promitive a state at
nresent to do much more than estl-
mate. and but one county, Kent, mas
been pretty well prObed. In Kent
county. basing the estimate on tne
COWS examined, there are about III
per cent diseased.
In New Castle county it IS not eN-
pected that the rate will run as high
as this. because many Of the herds
are fancy bred and not raised partc-
ularly for their milk producing quail
tiles A.
The situation III Newark, wDsre lhe
producers at first decided not to have
their COWS tested, has been cleared
nm. The producers decided aftel
Thought to agree to the test. and this
solved the problem for the state
health officials.
II is expected that the placing IN
oneration of this law will not be et-
fected without many little objections
and bothers and that it may be a
wear before it is fully in force IN
every town and section.