1220 New York State Agricultural Society 



gaged in studying the problem involved for the purpose of devising 

 some plan that would result in more progress in this direction. 

 ■jMen of science who are competent to speak on this subject, 

 tell us that in their judgincnt a physical examination of all the 

 dairy herds of the state will disclose a very large percentage of 

 the animals suffering from this disease, the milk of which is dan- 

 gerous and which are a menace to the herds in which they are 

 located ; it therefore has been suggested that the time has come 

 when the state can take a long step in advance along these lines 

 and provide for a compulsory physical examination of all the dairy 

 herds of the state, for the purpose of eliminating at once such 

 animals as are a source of danger to the public health. If this 

 is practicable and these animals can be eliminated, very 

 much can be accomplished toward ridding the state of 

 this disease and preventing its spread to the healthy ani- 

 mals in the herds. It has not been proposed that we tamper or 

 trifle with the tuberculin test as now provided by law, but if, .after 

 all the physical cases are removed from the dairy herds, the tuber- 

 culin test is then applied to the remaining animals which do not 

 disclose any sign of the disease as the result of a physical examina- 

 tion, the animals found reacting as the result of such test can then 

 be removed and there can be no question, if this can be accom- 

 plished, that we will be practically free from this disease in our 

 dairy herds. In order to prevent the further spread of the dis- 

 ease it has been suggested that the skimmed milk and whev. 

 the by-products of our butter and cheese factories, should be pas- 

 teurized before being used as food for calves, pigs or other ani- 

 mals. I. is believed that the use of milk and whey from these 

 sources has been a })rolific source of the sjiread of this disease, and 

 it would be an idle thing to take from our (hiirv herds the affected 

 animals unless we adopt a policy of prevention for the future. I 

 do not believe that tul)erculosis exists in New York to a greater 

 extent than in any other state. Indeed, I believe we are very far 

 in advance of most states in the work the state is accomi)lishing in 

 combating this disease. 1 hclievc that our milk supply is as pure 

 and wholesome ami that oui- hnttcr and cheese is manufactui-ed 

 under as sanitary coiKlitions as prevail anywhere in this coinitry. 

 But our dairy interests are of such tremendous magnitude, by 



