404 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



If these views and suggestions of Dr. Lee are worthy of con- 

 sideration as a guide to action, it would be the height of absurdity 

 to attempt to rid the State of tuberculous animals by taxing the 

 people to pay for all that might be suspected of having the disease 

 or of having been in some way exposed to it. If the disease, even 

 now, were as prevalent as some have asserted, it would require 

 millions of dollars to begin an undertaking which could give no 

 promise of a satisfactory ending. 



The Commissioners believe that the magnitude of the evil and 

 the danger attending it cannot be too fully realized by cattle 

 owners or consumers of cattle products, nor can the truth be 

 known too soon. Tuberculosis does exist to a greater or less 

 extent among the cattle of the State, and has existed among cattle 

 herds for thousands of years. It can be kept in check or eradi- 

 cated only by understanding and observing the influences which 

 permit the continuance of its existence. This work, to be suc- 

 cessful, should be entered upon by all. The Jews, who make the 

 inspection of meats a religious duty, are nearly exempt from this 

 disease. Boiled milk and thoroughly cooked meats are approxi- 

 mately free from the germs of any form of niicroscopic poison. 

 If the tons of cheaper parts of beef which are daily sent to the 

 fertilizer mills, because the American taste or fashion calls only 

 for the choicer cuts for serving rare, were properly cooked, the 

 people would save thousands of dollars on their meat bills, and at 

 the same time escape a constant danger of contracting diseases 

 through the consumption of uncooked flesh. 



Many who have traced the connection between tuberculosis in 

 cows and. consumption in human beings have for years insisted 

 that no uncooked milk shall be used upon their own tables. Boil- 

 ing not only removes the danger of disease, but boiling and imme- 

 diate cooling adds greatly to the keeping qualities, particularly in 

 hot weather. There are said to be thirty different forms of bac- 

 terial life, not all harmful, found in milk ; but cooking destroys 

 all. 



The course indicated for the safety of the farm herds is to secure 

 a stock of healthy animals, and then breed a sufficient number of 

 young to fully supply the home demand. A purchased creature 

 coming from an unknown quarter always may be a source of dan- 

 ger. The oft-repeated story of those who find the disease in their 

 herds is that " I bought a cow that was thin in flesh and looked 

 badly, but I thought she would improve on my keeping. But, 

 instead, she grew worse and died, and now some of my other 

 cattle have that same bad look." 



Never, on any consideration, breed from an animal of either sex 



