86 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



from that and cause very serious harm, and perhaps death, 

 to the human family. I would like to ask Dr. North to tell 

 us how we are going to handle the tuberculosis question. Is 

 it fair to ask the government of the United States or each 

 State to pay for the tuberculosis in our o\vn herds ? It seems 

 to me right here is one of the most serious problems in the 

 production of milk, and healthy milk, in Massachusetts 

 to-day. 



Dr. North. The speaker has asked me a question so dif- 

 ficult that I can hardly hope to answer it, and I don't feel 

 ashamed to admit my inability because I don't believe there 

 is a man in the country who could answer it who would be 

 likely to be correct. I agree entirely with the speaker that 

 it is for the interest of the dairy farmer himself to keep it 

 out of his herd. I believe in the long run he will lose money 

 by not eradicating the tuberculous animals. I am also sat- 

 isfied the disease is transferred sometimes through milk, espe- 

 cially to children, and I think our milk laws in time will be 

 framed so they will specify that milk must be labeled as to 

 bacteria, butter fat, and as to whether or not the cows were 

 tested. The market itself will decide what it wants to buy. 

 The only trouble now is that all milk is white ; it all looks in- 

 nocent, and no one can tell whether it is good or bad by looking 

 at it. But if the producer and dealer are compelled to label 

 the goods, we shall know what the quality is and whether 

 we want it or not. Now in regard to getting rid of the 

 tuberculous cow, I believe the tuberculin test is the best way, 

 but as to how that is to be done in a way not to bring about 

 great financial loss is a serious question. AVe have State 

 laws which prohibit the transportation of cattle unless they 

 have been tested. I should like to see the time come when no 

 man could sell a cow or buy a cow without having either a 

 certificate that that cow had been tested within a year, or 

 else that the cow must be tested right then and there. I 

 believe the transfer of dairy cows from one farm to another 

 is the thing that keeps tuberculosis alive. I believe if a 

 farmer was compelled to keep his tuberculous cows at home, 

 the disease would soon die out, because the cow, on his own 

 place, would either get well or die. There is no use in hav- 



