The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1921-02-23
ANOTHER ORDINANCE


ance for the consideration of the city council
We have too many laws, rules and regulations ;
federal, state and municipal, for anyone to live
in comfort But now and again something's comes
up that demands attention, for the public safety
and welfare Of the community; this instance sub
ScribeS to both.
There are laws in the state requiring that
every herd of COWS Of five or more from which
milk is sold must be tuberculn tested. Nothing
is said of herds of less than five cows if our in
formation be correct There is no way to reach
them under the state statutes. Recently small
dairy herd of four COWS, within the city limits
of Bozeman, was tested and two of the four
animals were found to have tuberculosis. In
another herd supplying milk to the city five
animals out of % reacted to tuberculin tests.
Other herds were tested and found clean. Over
20 tuberculer animals were found in one small
locality through County Agent Bodleys work.
For the bigger dairy herds there is the state
law. But for the smaller ones those of two, three
and up to five COWS, there is no recourse save
a city ordinance There may be no more tuber-
culin cows supplying milk to BOzeman; again
there may. We don't know. Neither does or will
anyone else until there is thorough wedding out
of all milk from INFESTED cows. The simplest way
out would be for the council to pass an ordinance
requiring a certificate to be deposited with the
city clerk by everyone selling milk in Bozeman,
even if from but one COW. This certificate should
state when the COWS of that dairyman were test
ed and by whom. A yearly retest should also be
required. Such ordinance would work harm
to no one for it is careessness rather than inten-
tiOnal harm that lets these tuberculin COWS get
by The testing costs nothing. The certific& tes
cost nothing. And every da:ryman should take
pride in having it on file with the city clerk.
Bovine tuberculosis is dangerous to the health
of any community. The best authorities ascribe
20 to 60 per cent of human tuberculosis to in
fected milk from tUberculer cows. Do you wish
to run into that danger? Do you want your baby
to be drinking milk that may come from cow suf-
fering from the dread disease?
But tuberculosis is not all that is the trouble
with part of BOzeman's milk supply. There are
cows kept in and around the city that are absolute
ly clean. Clean barns, clean yards and clean milk
ers are the rule On the other hand there are
other COWS absolutely filthy; animals that wade
around in muck and dirt, with flanks plastered
with manure, barns despatched and mixers
whose hands and clothing show but slight &C
Quaintance with soap and water. These condi
tons could be corrected by having an inspection
of all dairy barns and COWS by the city health
officer. Or better yet, visit your milk man your
self and see how he keeps his stock.
ALI the good health weeks IN the world WOnt
help us if we are drinking infection with the mill
we place on our tables. No amount of care car
guard against tuberculer bacilli if they are al
ready in the milk The thing to do is to get rio
of all these tuberculer cows, insist on city in
spection of diaries and on cleaner condition!
throughout.
We seek to work hardship on no one by calling
attention to these facts. Bozeman is perhaps
better off than many cities in the state in respec
to its milk supply. But there is no reason fo
any danger. The fact that fifty per cent of on
small herd within the city limits was recent!
found to be tubercuer should wake people up
Insist on inspection. This works no real hardship
your milkman, for if his COWS are tested an,
some react, he gets their full assessed valuation
If he has been honest in listing his assets wit
the county he stands to lose nothing whatever.
This is a subject which intimately concern
every home in Bozeman and one on which i'm
mediate action should be taken. The inspectio
will cost nothing, either of the COWS Or of tn
diaries. Let's set an example to every town
the valley and have "a milk supply that we kno,
is clean