The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1921-08-01
Tuberculin Testing
Protects Public a
From Tuberculosis

Is tuberculin testing accomplish
ing the thing for which 1t was in
tended, namely, the protection OF the
health OF the public against tuber-
culosis OF bovine origin. According
| to the Journal of the American
Veterinary association the answer ii
emphatically, yes.
At the time testing was begun in
the state Of California, raw milk
from many large dairies where
tuberculosis prevailed to 80 per cent
was being sold. Veterinarians in
support of the test remember having
visited such herds where the sale of
raw milk had been stopped, and
noted the visible effects of tuber-
culosis upon children Of the family
who had continued to drink the milk
in its raw state. A case Is recited
in which two of the children bore en-
larged Tuberculosis glands on their
necks that could be seen from con-
siderable distance even by an an. !,
skilled observer. NN
Today the products from suci.
herds as these are pasteurized in
states where the testing is conS
pulsory for the sale of the herds
products. In fact, with few excep-,r
tions, the products of all the larger
herds are pasteurized and in, the
case of those where pasteurization
is not practised they are regularly
and frequently tested so that it is
not likely that a "spreader' would
develop in the brief space Of time
between tests.
"A family in Sonoma, county, Cal.
having two cows and more milk than |
they could use, made application for
test. When the test was applied
both cows reacted showing that they
had tuberculosis. The lady began to
cry and told the inspector that 1t was
not the loss Of the cows that caused
her grief, but the fact that their
small child whose only food had
been the milk from these two cows,
was recently operated upon forA
tuberculosis Of the bones, and was
at that moment lying in plaster
cast and would probably be an in
valid the remainder of its life. Upon
investigation 1t was found that both
parents were healthy and all SAM
tary conditions of the house were
good. Certainly the child had con-
tracted the disease from one of the
cows, which was a "spreader." Hads
1t not been for the testing of these
cows, children Of the neighbors purS
chasing milk from this family would
have been exposed and doubtless
some would have contracted the dis
ease. ~
In some cities of this state the sale
OF products from dairy herds is pro-
hibited unless the herd has been.
tested by the state officials for this
work. Otherwise turnout the state
It is optional with the owner whether
he wishes his herd to be placed on
the accredited list or not, however,
there is not much inducement for
him to do this unless it is done by
all owners in the entire community.
The drawback being that the herd
that is accredited is bound to mix
to greater or less extent and in this
way the testing and treating iS
practically useless. But when eveyG
herd in the community is tested and
the owner fulfills his part of the con-
tract made with the state and all
those having one or two COWS also
have them tested the result is that
the city is free from diseased milk
and butter. t
DR.. Shipley, state veterinary Il y
spector, has been inspecting a numy
Der OF herds around Shelley. The
Shelley people are anxious to get
their herds accredited SO that they
may sell their dairy products in
Idaho Falls, where city ordinance
has made it compulsory that dairy
products sold there must be from
tested herds.
The state does the testing free Ok
charge, but the owner must agree
to dispos Of any animals that are
round be diseased according to the
meat-inspection regulations Of the
y. s. bureau Of animal industry and
state laws.