No. 4.] UNITED STATES DAIRYING. 145 



extremists and based upon the teachings of science and ex- 

 perience, which show that the public healtli may be properly 

 guarded without violence to private rights or the summary 

 destruction of the dairyman's herd, and sometimes of his 

 business. This is not the time to enter upon a discussion 

 of this subject, but I cannot refrain from briefly quoting 

 li'om tlie authoritative and encouraging report of Professor 

 Dr. Bang of the Royal Veterinary College of Denmark, 

 on bovine tuberculosis, which has lately been translated 

 and distributed by the ^Massachusetts State Board of 

 Agriculture : — 



I consider the requirement of killing the cattle reacting (to the 

 tuberculin test) within a year's time as too rigorous, at least iu 

 countries in which cattle are chiefly held for milk production. 

 The large majority of reacting animals are only slightly tubercu- 

 lous. According to my observations, they can remain for years 

 fully capable of accomplishing their work, and with many of them 

 the tuberculosis probably remains wholly localized for the entire 

 life, or even a cure may take place. Why, therefore, should the 

 owner be required to butcher his best cows? In milk-producing 

 countries it has long been attempted to establish a race of great 

 milkers. In recent years particular attention has been paid to 

 breeding only such cows as furnished milk with a high percentage 

 of butter fat. It has been done because this most valuable quality 

 seemed to be hereditary. Should the work thus accomplished be 

 now destroyed? The requirement mentioned would mean for 

 many cattle owners nothing less than financial ruin. 



Dr. Bang then goes on, in this most valuable report, to 

 show how, ])y proper precautions and rational procedure, a 

 healthy herd may be built up on the foundation of one which 

 has been technically pronounced diseased, although not what 

 is ordinarily regarded as sick, — and this without })rejudice 

 to the public health. 



Rational feeding of cows offers one of the best opportuni- 

 ties for the exercise of economy now open to the dairyman. 

 So much has been alreadj' said and written upon this subject, 

 and so much good work is still going on, — all made avail- 

 al)lo to those who seek it, — that nothing more than this 

 reference is necessary here. Economy demands of every 

 feeder an intelligent study of the materials he has at hand, 



