272 THE COMMON SENSE OF THE MILK QUESTION 



All cattle slaughtered in the city, and all carcasses 

 brought into the city, intended for the market, 

 must be thoroughly inspected for traces of tuber- 

 culosis. Where general tuberculosis is discovered 

 the whole carcass is condemned and no part of it may 

 be used as food. It is first rendered unsalable, after 

 which it may be used for soap-making and similar 

 purposes. Carcasses in which no trace of the disease 

 can be found are marked "First Class" and, of com-se, 

 bring the best prices. Where localized infection 

 only is found, the infected parts are first cut away 

 and destroyed, after which the remainder is permitted 

 to be sold, but it must bear the label "Second Class." 

 Great care is taken to protect healthy animals, as 

 it is hoped from them to breed a new, healthy stock. 

 While the law under which this system is operated 

 applies only to Copenhagen, the system is being 

 gradually adopted throughout Denmark. 



Of course, Denmark is a little country, and its 

 conditions differ from ours in every way. The Danish 

 experience is of value to us only as showing that 

 bovine tuberculosis can be very greatly reduced and 

 that it is not idle to think of its entire eradication. 

 To obtain that result it will be necessary to destroy 

 an enormous number of valuable dairy cattle, for 

 which their owners must be compensated, involving 

 an enormous outlay of money, aggregating many 

 millions of dollars. It will be necessary, also, to 



