The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1922-01-05

tanned the hope that it would ultimate,
~ be eradcated. 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 6anished.
This change of attitude has been
brought about largely through the eff
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 period of four
years, during which the work has been
directed toward ultimate elimination,
several thousand herds have been ac-
credited MS being free from the disease
and a number Of stable areas In dif-
ferent states contain practically no
tuberculous cattle. These results have
demonstrated conclusively that, if suf
fcient funds are made available, this
menace 10 human health and to the
success OF livestock farming may be
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 ii easier to get the sup
port necessary for putting through
such countrywide program against
10 af
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 the problem, the insuring or
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
100000 cattle a 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 it 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 II 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
oil Of cleaning up circumscrbed areas
Is the predominant one.
Nine counties in the United States
have now completed one or more Off
clal tuberculosis tests of the cattle
within those areas, and about so coun-
ties are now either engaged in this
work or are getting ready 10 take II
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 the job in hand.
HiIlsdale County a Model.
One of the best examples of what
county can do in getting rid Of this
destructive disease is found in Hills
dale county, Mich. On October 81
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 a township to 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 in the
county had been tested.
There were 1888 herds, containing
~, 10 tdltic' anu 90 ItuCNVIS were
found. This means that about "a per
cent of the cattle i'm the county had
the discase-a rather low percentage.
In 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 ulti-
mately come from IL. In this count
the farmers and breeders, and In In
all the people Of the county, were q
thusiastic, which helped a great dc
toward getting the work done in sufh
short time.
other Counties Become lntereste
Some of the most progressive IN
Stock counties In various palLs. ~ =
-n,tr,Ii.,. at.. ,1l..s- tinker -