356 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



September, 19 lo 



A visibly tuberculous cow 



A very old animal affected with the disease 



The Danger of the Use of Milk from Tuberculosis Cows 



By Frank N. Bauskett 



'HAT fifteen per cent, of the people dying 

 of tuberculosis in the District of Colum- 

 bia is due to milk supplied from cows 

 afHicted with the disease was the startling 

 announcement recently made after a few 

 weeks investigation by the federal inspec- 

 tors under the Department of Agricul- 

 ture. That such a condition exists in other parts of the 

 country there can be little doubt. 



In the herds in and around the District of Columbia, 

 not only a few of the animals have been diseased, but 

 nearly the whole of a herd has been found afflicted. The 

 first day of inspection eighteen cows out of a herd of twenty- 

 one were found to be affected with tuberculosis. The 

 second day twenty-three head were found diseased in a 

 drove of twenty-eight. Every animal now in the District is 

 to be inspected, requiring the time of a force of federal 

 inspectors for several months. Under the regulations of 

 the District of Columbia, these diseased animals can be 

 killed, but the owner must be paid for his stock. In each 



of the animals slaughtered tuberculous lesions were found, 

 showing that the tuberculin test is absolutely trustworthy, 

 while the inspection without the test is found to be futile. 

 In some of the handsomest herds of thoroughbred animals, 

 which have been inspected without the test, and which to 

 all appearances were in excellent health, was found the 

 most aggravated cases. 



It is admitted that the District health authorities knew 

 that the herds of cattle from which the District's milk 

 supply is derived were diseased, and knew that the milk 

 was causing sickness and death among the consumers, 

 but the plea is made that they were powerless to act for lack 

 of funds; that Congress is to blame. Can one imagine such 

 a deplorable condition of affairs. How can this dreaded 

 disease be fought sucessfully, if one section of the country 

 does everything in its power to stamp it out and another 

 part of the country conceals the fact that many of its people 

 are dying from the use of milk from animals affected with 

 the disease ! How long would the condition obtained had 

 not the federal authorities asked permission to investigate 



Tuberculous cows apparently in a healthy condition. Disease is spread among other animals by the slobber from their mouths during eating 



