Milford chronicle., 1947-10-17

according to an article by DIR. Thurman B.
Rice in the current issue of "Hygeia," health
magazine of the American Medical Associa-
ton.
Unpasteurized milk from infected cows
has been believed to have been the chief
agent in spreading undulant fever, disease
which is rarely fatal but which often leaves
lasting effects on its victims. But recent re-
search at the Indiana University school of
medicine where DIR. Rice heads the depart
ment of public health and bacteriology, in
dicates contact with swine accounts for 70
per cent of human infection, according to the
article
1t was stressed that the disease cannot be
contracted from the cooked meat of an in
fected animal. 1t was believed that the dis
ease can be caught by worker in slaugh-
terhouse from a freshly killed animal, but
that the major threat is to farmers and veter-
inarians who might be directly exposed.
Therefore the disease is limited almost en-
tirely to farm areas.
The disease, with symptoms much like
those of malaria or typhoid fever sprang
originally from the Mediterranean area,
where it was known as Malta fever. The
symptoms, which often recur for years after
the disease is contracted, include high fever,
chills, nausea and intestinal disturbances
which come in intermitten spells. In severe
cases it can lead to serious emaciatiOn and
make the individual unduly susceptible to
other ailments.
The disease now ranks fourth in prevail
ence among communicable diseases in the
United States, DIR. Rice said Present gains
in the prevention of the three leaders, tu-
berculosis, syphilis and gonorrhea, he con-
tinued, may push undulant fever to the top
of the list within a few years"
With the discovery of this source of in
fection, it may be possible to find a preven-
tative within the near future. In the mean
time it will be well for those handling hogs
to use diligence in their work. Unpleasant
consequences may be eliminated in this man
ner.
1T is PROBABLE that a very small min.
ority of the people realize to what extent the
cost of government enters into present day
living costs.
The Tax Foundation recently published 6
remarkable comparison of the cost of fooc
and the cost of the Federal government
which was prepared by the Chief of the st
Louis Star-Times Washington bureau. The
comparison shows that government costs
exclusive of war activities-increased from
$4,000,000,O00 in 1929 to $21, 900, 900, 900 il
1916. In the same period, food costs increas
ed from $4,000, 100000 to $43,O00,O 100000
And, in 1916, retail food store sales came t,
$4,000, 100000 - which was only $4,000,
100000 more than the cost of the Fedora
government, not counting war expenditures
These figures, it should be emphasized, do no
include the cost of state and local govern
ments.
It's a sure bet that if the governmen
had done as much to hold down costs as ha
American business, we'd be far better of
now. The cost of commodities has gone VI
in spite of, not because of, the efforts of in
dustry to keep prices from getting out o
line. No manufacturer wants to see his Gus
toners priced out of the market No store
keeper, whether he sells food or clothing o
anything else, wants to see consumers force
into buying less. That feeling is shared b
great manufacturers and small producers
and on the distribution end, by the big chai
systems and the little stores alike. But tn
tide of imitation has been running strongly
and business cannot check it with the cost Q
government entirely beyond it's control.
Excessively costly and wasteful govern
ment is one of the most dangerous and pow
erful infationary forces. So, when we rt
vile high prices, we should remember ths
government has been major factor in cauS
ing them-and that the policies of govern
ment will largely determine what prices d
in the future.
5000
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST report
the oil supply outlook for the coming wintt
is not entirely favorable. However, the il
dustry has taken every possible step to NEE
the expected demand, and if the public wi
cooperate by adopting reasonable conServ;
tion measures, nothing more serious than l.
, cal and temporary difficulties are likely to
encountered.
The gasoline supply problem, the repor
state, has been pretty well solved. The mo-
important current problem remains that
E fuel oil. Certain unpredictable factors a.
, involved here. If, for instance, the comir
winter is abnormally cold, the situation W
J be more critical than is forecast. Howeve
! due to the industry's international campai9
, in the Midwest and elsewhere, consum
: tanks are better filled than ever before at tn
. time of year. That will relieve to some d
orxoo fLo c41,oi,, ipducfY1 ctr fooi1i4;c