The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-27
Health Department to Act
Here Soon as Means
Will Permit
DEPLORABLE STATE
OF AFFAIRS EXISTS

Twenty-Five Towns in Vermont Besides
Barre, However, Where Licenses Are
Not Issued Unless Herds Are on,
cially Tested.
Editor of The Reformer:-
An editorial in The Reformer of Sat
urday entitled Tubercular Milk Kills,
treats of a matter so serious that it
should not be overlooked by any reader,
and it should be kept in type for fire.
quent repetition.
Statements relative to conditions in
Vermont being somewhat misleading, I
think this is proper time to explain
just what is being done by the health de-
partment to correct conditions. hoping
that this article may emphasize the de-
plorable state of affairs which exists,
stimulate interest in the efforts which
will be made to bring about radical
changes more speedily than the present
appropriations viii permit, and bring
parents to realize that a real danger
turks in that food which constitutes the
major part of childhood's bill of fare
and IS the only substitute to be. con-
sidered in the artificial feeding of in
/ fants.
The young child is highly susceptible
to tuberculosis infection and it is pretty
generally understood that the disease is
usually contracted during the early
years, but may remain dormant for a
long period of time, becoming active only
! when some of the acute or wasting dis
eases lower the vitality of the one in.
fected to such degree that his power
of resistance is temporarily paralyzed
Ordinances similar to those in force in
Barre have been on file in this Office for
some time, together with others which
it is believed win meet with general ap-
iproval, which will be presented at the
proper time for adoption.
1t may be interesting to learn that
there are % towns in Vermont, besides
Barre, where licenses to sell milk and
cream to the consumer are not issued un-
less the product is from herds already
; tested for tuberculosis under state or
federal supervision, or for which appli-
cation for the test is on file with the
livestock commissioner of the state.
: The available funds in the hands OF
that department, for testing, and indem-
nifty for cattle condemned, are not equal
to the demands made upon them, while
so many applications are already in that
many will not be attended to for several
months to come. Those familiar with
!; the laws pertaining to tuberculn testing
will understand that an official test
4 only, is of value, as it is the only one
1 where the applicant must agree that
u when his herd is clean he will keep it so.
No cattle may be added TO the herd but
those known to be free from disease, by
the same test, nor is this herd to at
: any time come into contact with othei
than accredited animals The herd is
also submitted for re-test at such times
as the livestock commissioner deems ad-
visable. Private tests are subject to
none of these requirements, and for the
purposes sought are of no practical value.
4 Reference may be had to Bulletin No.
90, of the state department of agriculture
for full information regarding this mat
i ter.
T Local ordinances at this time requiring
!, that milk be sold only from tested herds
! would not only make resort to private
e tests, which are of value only tempor-
7. arily, necessary, but as result there
would be very little milk to be had,
n and that at prohibitiye prices.
n 1t is true that the law requires health
e officers to submit samples to the state
n laboratory for analysis, but the trainers
n of the act failed to take into considera-
L, ton the fact that adequate facilities
e should be provided at the laboratory end
II to take care of the specimens. Analysis
L is carried on as rapidly as possible and
the samples are submitted when they can
N be taken care of. / have been assured
IL that containers would be sent to me very
soon. When results are in, they will be
q published so that all may see.
'e Bacterial counts or other microscopical
examinations or disease cultures cannot
be made upon specimens sent from this
part of the state, as the bacterial growth
1T is so rapid and the time required in tran
err sit so long that any findings along this
"a line are negative. However, tests for
lie cleanliness and purity and others to de.
cs termine percentage of ingredients or pos
or sible dilution, can and will assure us of
IL legal product which is at least free
re from visible dirt, all of which viii be re.
es quired of all local dealers as early as is
ie consistent with the means available.
III The matter of supervision of milk and
10 cream sold to the consumer is in compel
tent hands and reports will be published
in the coming months which will con-
ne vince anyone that our slogan ''Only Milk
n from Accredited Herds, for Local Con.
s sumption" is well on the way to becom'
ne ing a reality, the time when it may be
e. so depending entirely upon the legisla-
tors whom we choose to represent us al
Sc the state capitol
x C. S. LEACH, NJ. D.,