33 



The actual danger to the health of the people from such adulterations is nothing 

 when compared to the danger from tubercular germs. 



**#*** ^ 



The only way to control the spread of this and other diseases is by compulsory in- 

 spection of all cows kept for dairy purpose by competent inspectors, and the con- 

 demnation of all cows that are found to bo diseased. 



A thorough compulsory inspection of all the dairies and slaughtering establish- 

 ments, under the control of the Federal and State Governments working in harmony, 

 could be made to very materially decrease the number of deaths among the people, 

 more especially in our cities. There is no subject of more importance with which our 

 statesmen can grapple. Under the law as it no\v stands, the Bureau of Animal In- 

 dustry can do no more than to incidentally find out that tuberculosis exists; there are 

 no funds that are available for the purpose of controlling diseased* meats, or of dis- 

 posing of tuberculosis cows. 



It is not too much to say that scientific men who have given this sub- 

 ject attention are almost a unit as to the necessity of a rigid govern- 

 ment inspection of both slaughter-houses and dairies. 



The extracts which I append are but a few out of a very large num- 

 ber of a similar character that have been brought to my attention. I will 

 first oifer some extracts from the report of an authority already quoted. 

 I refer to the Brooklyn health department. It may be urged in this 

 connection that diseased meats and dairy products are not, properly 

 speaking, adulterations, but it is quite evident that in providing for 

 this report the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representa- 

 tives intended to include, as far as possible, all food products injurious 

 to health, as well as those which might come under the head of com- 

 mercial adulteration. That the committee was desirous to prevent the 

 consumption of diseased meats is shown by their favorable report on 

 the Laird bill which embraced among its provisions one for a rigid in- 

 spection of animals intended for human food, both before and after 

 slaughter. 



So far as inspection of milk is concerned I would suggest that 

 although from its nature it is unlikely to become the subject of interstate 

 commerce and thus be withdrawn from the absolute control of munici- 

 pal or State regulations, still there are cases in various parts of the 

 country in which it is conveyed from one State to the other, and it seems 

 to me that to confine the inspection of milk to an analysis as is usually 

 done is quite inadequate for the protection of the consumer. Important 

 as this is, the inspection of the source whence the milk is derived is 

 perhaps even more so. Among milch cows the disease of tuberculosis 

 is undoubtedly very prevalent. Professor Law states that 20, 30, or 

 even 50 per cent, of certain herds that supply New York City with milk 

 are affected by this disease ; u in some country districts of New York 

 can be shown large herds with 90 per cent, subject to tuberculosis." 

 The evidence in regard to the contagious nature of tuberculosis and to 

 the possibility of its communication to man by the meat and milk of 

 tuberculous animals is becoming so strong that further doubt is im- 

 possible. 



12563 Bull. 25 3 



