Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1922-01-19


regarding bovine tuberculosis began,
there were very few people who enter
tanned the hope that 1t would ultimate
ly be eradicated. Now, after many
years of effort, first unsuccessful, but
now giving great promise Of success,
there are many who firmly believe that
the time Is coming when this scourge
of live stock will be conquered.
tuberculosis May Be Banlshed.
This change of attitude has been
brought about largely through the ef-
forts of the bureau Of animal industry
Of the United States Department Of
Agriculture, cooperating with the vari-
Gus state officials, which have been so
successful that within q period Of four
years, during which the work has been
directed toward ultimate elimination,
several thousand herds have been ac-
credited as being free from the disease
and q number Of siZable areas In diff
ferent states contain practically no
tuberculous cattle. These results have
demonstrated conclusively that, If suf-
ficient funds are made available, this
menace to human health and to the
success Of livestock, farming may be
done away with in practical manner.
tuberculosis of cattle is one Of the
few farm problems that appeals with
almost equal force to city people, for
the healthfulness Of milk and meat Is
Of vital Importance to them. This fact
ought to make it easier to get the sup
port necessary for putting through
such countrywide program against
the disease. The cattle resources Of
the country are of the utmost import
ance, and measures to reduce the risk
Of loss represent nothing more than
common sense.
Insurance Feature Appeals.
There are more than 66,000,O00 head
of cattle in the country worth nearly
$4,000, 100000. Aside from the health
aspect Of tie problem, the insurlng Of
this vast amount Of wealth against
loss ought to appeal to all classes Of
people as necessary measure for the
good of the nation.
At the present time various state
and federal agencies are testing about
10000 cattle month and eliminating
those that are found to be tuberculous,
but it is expected that in the near fu-
ture probably 100000 head will be
tested monthly by the combined forces.
On that basis 1t Is easy to see that
great progress will be made toward
getting rid of the plague, for the evil
dence obtained shows that the methods
now in use are practical. When the
campaign began most Of the stress was
laid on cleaning up individual herds,
and this was the only practical thing
to do as not enough sentiment had
been aroused to make it possible to
get general support for campaign in
any locality. But the advantage gained
by cattle breeders who were able to
advertise tuberculOsis-free herds was
so great that Skeptics were convinced,
and now many localities have taken up
the problem and are rapidly cleaning
up all herds within their boundaries.
In fact, at the present time this meth
cd of cleaning up circumscribed areas
Is the predominant one.
Nine counties in the United States
have now completed one or more off,
cial tuberculosis tests Of the cattle
within those areas, and about so coun-
ties are now either engaged in this
work or are getting ready to take 1t
up. In some of the counties the super
visors appropriate funds to employ in
spectors who help the state and fed
eral officials. In others the farm bu-
reaus have taken tie job in hand.
hilIsdaIe County Model.
One of the best examples Of what a
county can do in getting rid OF this
destructive disease lis found In Hills
dale county, Mich. On October "A
campaign was launched with the idea
of cleaning out all the diseased cattle.
A force of 80 county, state, and fed
eral inspectors was organized. They
divided up the territory, giving part
of u township 10 each man. The coun-
ty farm bureau furnished automobiles
that were driven by the farmers who
were leaders in the communities and
had influence with the livestock own
ers. BY November every herd iE the
county had been tested.
There were 2.339 herds. containing
15.7T3 cattle, and 3I5 reactOrs were
found. This means that about "a per
cent of the cattle in the county had
the dis aase-a rather low percentage.
I'm sections where the disease is no
more extensive than this. the cost OF
cleanup is almost negligible when COM
pared with the good that must uti-
mately come from ii. In this county
the farmers and breeders, and in fact
all the people of the county. were en-
thuSinStic. which helped II great deal
toward getting the work done i'll such
Il short time.
Other Counties Become Interested.
Some of the most progressive live
stock counties in various parts Of the
country are now taking up this prob