The Newark journal., 1922-01-05

i Pt AitiI9 yttiS di1CI Nile= =dBlAblibI regarding bovine tuberculosis began. 1 there were very few people who enter 1 tained the hope that 1t would ultimate l 1y be eradicated. Now. after many ! years of effort, first unsuccessful, but now giving great promise of success, i there are many who firmly believe that the time is coming when this seourge of live stock will be conquered. Tuberculosis May Be Banished.
 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- ous state officials, which have been so successful that within 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 tubefculeus cattle. These results have demonstrated exclusively that if suf- dcieat 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 heathfulness of milk and meat is of vital importance to them. This fact ought to make it easier to get the SUD- 1 port necessary for putting through such Il 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 thnn G6,000000 head of cattle in the country worth nearly S3,000, ,000000. Aside from the health aspect Of the problem, the insuring of this vast amount of wealth against loss ought 10 appeal to all classes of people Us q necessary measure for the good of the nation.
 At the present time various state and federal agencies are testing about 150 600 cattle d month and eliminating those that are found to be tubereulous, 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 evi- 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 thls was the only practical thing to do as not enough sentiment had been aroused to make 1t possible to get general support for campaign in any locality. But the advantage gained by cattle breeders who were able t0 advertise tuberculosis-free herds was so great that skepties 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 50 coun- ties are now either engaged in this work or are getting ready to take 1t up. In some of the counties the super vlsors appropriate funds to employ in- speetors who help the state and fed eral officials. In others the farm bu- reaus have taken the job in hand
 tillsdale County Model.
 One of the best examples of what a county can do in getting rid of this destructive disease is found in Hills dale county, Mich. On October 24 campaign was launched with the idea of cleaning out all the diseased cattle. A force of 30 county, state, and fed eral inspectors was organized They divided up the territory, giving part of q township to each man. The coun- | ty farm bureau furnished automobiles l that were driven by the farmers who were leaders in the communities and | had influence with the livestock own CTS. By November 5 every herd in the 1 county had been tested.
 There were 2,339 herds, containing l 15,773 cattle, and 37o reactors were l found. This means that about 2.4 per cent of the cattle in the county had the disease-a rather low percentage. In sections where the disease is no 1 more extensive than this, the cost of 1 cleanup is almost negligible when com pared with the good that must ulti- mately come from it. In this county the farmers and breeders, and in fact all the people of the county, were en- 1 thusiastic. which helped great deal 1 toward getting the work done in such 1 short time.
 Other Counties Become Interested.
 Some of the most progressive live stock counties in various parts or the country are now taking up this prob-