Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-24
MAKES CLEAR
(continued from PAGE One)

10: "That cattle in the herd at the
Soldiers Home at Oxford are 'tuber-
cular reactors' which have been con- |.
demned by the State in private herds !!
and sent to the institution at Oxford
and kept there because there has been +
no signs of progress of the disease
This statement was made by Assem-
blyman Whitcomb. chairman Of the
Committee on Soldiers Homes.
This milk is pasteurized before use
at the Home. One Of the chief reas-
ons the State condemned cattle were
not destroyed was because they were
highbred Holsteins. This seems after
a little thought to be very serious
matted. Today almost every state is
spending very large sums of money in
its attempt to help stamp out this
curse and the people as a whole are
doing what they can to help. The
cattle are called "reactors.' That
means that when they are tested for
tuberculosis they show signs of hav-
ing the disease but possibly not in
advanced stage. A farmer is not al
lowed by the State to keep these re-
actors. so why in the name Of de- =
cency should they be herded at a SOL
diers' home. even If their milk is
pasteurized? 1t is not a very nice
thought. when one is drinking it.
Not only that; it is we'll known
fact that men working amongst tub
CIRCULAR cattle may, If their systems
are run down. take the disease from
infected cattle. The chief excuse
given, and a mighty poor one, at that,
is that they are highbred Holsteins.
The higher bred they are the more
| leason they should be put out Of the
way of doing more damage. The
temptation is always there to resell
these cattle as cured. There is prac-
tically no such thing as cure
amongst these high-bred mixers that
are forced to the limit with food.
| 1t seems too bad a farmer should
! lose the use of his cattle, knowing at
the same time that the State is utiliz-
ing them. Possibly an investigation
into State Farms might be in order:
because if this is a recognized prac-
tice it is an extremely dangerous one.
| have seen cases Of cattle that I'M
der the test showed only very slight
!
were rotten with the disease.
NEVILLE T.. ANDERSON.
Falmouth Forcside."
| While l am quite certain that the
statements made in this letter refer
to conditions existing in some other
state, probably New York. since there
| is a Soldiers Home at Oxford. New
York, it nevertheless occurs to me
that there is danger that people OF
our own state reading this article in
! a Maine paper may consider it as Il
criticism of the manner in which the
work of tuberculosis eradication is
being conducted here.
| Mr.. Anderson is evidently most sin,
cere in his concern over the danger
and injustice of such situation, and
! l heartily agree with all that he has
said concerning the Importance OF do
+ ing away with all animals which re-
act to tests for tuberculosis, and the
liability OF the disease being commu-
nicated to human beings, but it would
he unfortunate if as a result OF his
article any of our people should be-
como disturbed or lose faith in the
Z.
! Certain it is that there are no insti-
tutions in our State, public or private,
TO whose inmates milk is supplied
from tubercular cattle that are being
preserved from slaughter because OF
their high brec ding or for any other
reason.
/ Maine has today most cnviable
! position as regards It's percentage OF
! tuberclllar cattle, and we are finding
! only Sc rcactors, the smallest in any
eastern state. Under summertime
conditions our cattle arc being test
cd at the rate of 1000 per month and
all reactors are being destroyed with
out regard to breeding or ownership.
! 1t is worthy of note that in the &C
credited herd work where second
test is made among the same cattle
! the percentage of disease drops to
seven tenths of one per cent. The
appropriation allowed by the Icsisla-
ture having been exhausted because
of the unusual amount of work done,
/ the Governor and Council have wise
| ~ decided that the work is Of such
/ importance as to warrant their pro-
viding the necessary funds TO carry
lit on without curtailment. and ! am
asking you TO give your readers these
facts in order that none OF them may
misunderstood the statements con-
tanned in Mr.. Anderson's article.
These statements, it is evident to me
apply to some other state and the
| fact should be made clear.
Very truly yours,
T. =. WASHBURN,