Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1922-03-22
BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS

On another page of this issue will
he found a discussion on the question
of bovine tuberculosis, points con-
corning the test given for its detec-
ton and the related subject of the
slaughter of condemned animals and
the cost.
F.. E. Simpson of West Glover,
successful farmer and breeder, man
interested in civic matters and a stu
dent. leads the discussion against the
present plan. 1t will be remembered
these columns carried lengthy arti-
Gle on the subject by Mr.. Simpson
more than year ago which aroused
much interest, not alone in this I'M
mediate vicinity but in much broad
er field.
The last legislature appropriated
100000 a year for two years to back
the campaign for the eradication of
bovine tuberculosis in Vermont. and
the sum does not appear to be suffi-
Gent to take care of the call among
dairymen to have their herds tested.
This has aroused some protest from
the financial phase of the proposition.
That the subject is one which will
demand the attention of the next
legislature is certain from the inter-
est being displayed among farmers
and from the discussion which is seen
from time to time in the press. In
fact the governor was authorized by
the last legislature to appoint COM
mittee to investigate the question
and this committee will report to the
governor it's finding.
Hoard's Dairyman, dairy paper
of influence, stands for the present
method of testing and from time to
time has published articles upon the
topic, From a symposium In this
<SoI,rnal there is published alongside
Mr.. Simpsons article extracts from
this collection of letters in Hoard's
Dairyman in reply to letter to the
Dairyman from doubling farmer
from the state of Washington. So 1t
appears that it is not alone in Yer
mont that the subject is discussed.
We are glad, therefore, to give
space to the question and advise care
full reading that an intelligent under
standing of the subject may be reach
ed with as little prejudice as posi-
Bile. AS for ourselves we believe in
keeping an open mind.
We are not ready to condemn the
whole system as some are, neither
can we feel that the system is entire
ly right. If there is grave danger to
humans and to the dairy interests
from bovine tuberculosis why should
we continue along in a half-baked
plan for determination of the disease
another to go without, and no intra-
state law which prevents untested
animals to mix with tested herds, i'm
mediately undoing all that we have
started to do?
If the danger warrants the expen-
diture of 100000 annually with no
guarantee that the work of eradica-
ton is not undone as fast as it is
started, would not the state be bet
ter warranted in spending 100000
annually for two years, under abso-
lutte paternal regulation and have the
danger wiped out? If there is dam
ger from the spread of tuberculosis
from milk from tubercular COWS why
cannot the germ be found in the
milk? If the milk is not fit for hum
an consumption, why is the flesh :?
If tuberculosis can be discovered in
humans without serum injection,
why can it not be found in cattle in
a similar manner?
On the other hand scientists who
have studied the subject beyond our
ability to even comprehend state that
progress is being made, that improve
ment is noted in states where SYM
pathetic campaign for eradication
has been carried on and that Yer
mont ranks high among the dairy
states of the nation in its clean herds.
We are ready to accept these state
ments as fact. We certainly would
do nothing which would lower our
standing.
We have no desire to prolong the
discussion of this subject in our col
umns, only as we feel that the sub
ject is vital, is of interest to a large
part of our readers and should be
thoroughly gone into. Articles on
any phase of the subject, from lay
men or professional will be welcomed,
preference always being given to
brevity and to facts from local and
state sources. The source of state
ments must be known to the editor
or vouched for by signature.
Let us hear from the farmers. We
confess to seeing through glass
darkly.