The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1931-06-05
ANT|-TUbERCULIN
PROPAGANDA OUT.
CHAS. E. COTTON, SECRETARY
AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF
THE STATE LIVE STOCK SAM
TARY BOARD SENDS WARNING.

Following Is q letter received from
DR.. Cotton which explains itself. It
reads:
"A number of Minnesota papers have
been publishing propaganda against
tuberculin testing of cattle of late.
This propaganda contains a great many
and insinuations of state
ments that are false There seems to
be consistent effort, furthermore, to
distribute them throughout the state.
1T Is not the practice of the Mime
sofa Livestock Sanitary Board to
answer articles of this kind. In re-
Spouse to large number Of requests
we are making an exception in this
instance.
"As you probably know, this pro-
paganda against the tuberculin testing
of cattle comes from the same sources
that are constantly fighting every as
pect Of modern preventive medicine.
Not merely tuberculin testing of cattle,
but vaccination of the human family
as a preventive of small pox, typhoid
fever, scarlet fever and diphtheria are
the targets. Even the use Of serum
and virus for the immunization of hogs
against hog cholera which every far
mer knows protects his hogs for life
is included in the array.
They have supplied the farmer with
testimony of extremely doubtful auth
ority to the effect that the test will
ruin his cattle and are making every
effort to discount it's value as a pro-
lection of public health.
Against these obscure authorities
with their generally valueless degrees
from questionable sources we beg
leave to match other authorities OF
statewide and even worldwide reputa-
ton and of absolutely unquestionable
probity.
"Dr. Charles H. Mayo of the Mayo
Clinic at Rochester, says for instance
"a conservative estimate of the danger
of tuberculosis to humans would be
Is percent of tuberculosis in children
and five percent of all tuberculosis In
humans is due to infections of the
bovine germ which, In the majority Of
instances were received through the
consumption of tuberculosis milk.
"Dr. H. Longstreet Taylor, st. Paul
veteran tuberculosis worker says:
CAS- result of unauthorized teach.
ing many well meaning live stocl
owners have the idea that tuberculir
Is derived from tuberculosis germs anc
therefore must of a necessity be O.
damage to cattle. The conclusion L
erroneous since tuberculin is merel,
the clear absolutely sterile broth from
which the bacilli have been filtered
and to which glycerine and salt hav,
been added. The test is absolutel,
harmless. It protects the farmer
herd because one tuberculous ANNA
will infect 80 percent of the others
It protects human consumers from in
lection through milk from tuberculou
cows and under Minnesota's law, i
adequately reimburses the rarme
whose animal is condemned TO
slaughter"
"Other authorities are legion: DR.. Z
c. Lochead, health officer at Roches
ter who has published an article OF
the transmissabiiity of milk; DR.. A. J
Chesley of the Minnesota State Boar,
Of Health; DR.. M. P. Ravenel, a note,
authority on tuberculosis of Columbia
Missouri: DIR. j. A. Myers, of the Uni
versity Of Minnesota medical facult
to pick just few at random. d.
Myers says From an economic stand
point the saving to this country b.
tuberculin testing of cattle has beel
so great that most of us cannot evel
conceive the figures"
These men and countless others il
agreement with them have made tn
study Of tuberculosis its transmissa
bility and its control their life work
The quality of their testimony is be
yond question.
1T seems only fair to suggest tina
| the farmer be as cautious in accept
ing information in such matters as h
seems to be about tuberculin testin,
itself. He should be on his guard es
pecially, against any propaganda O
whatever sort that is sent out In tn
name of scientific medicine, remember
| ing that the American Medical Direc
| tory is always at hand to help hir
rule out Quacks and frauds and medi