FIGHTING TUBERCULOSIS IN VIRGINIA. 
489 
The other side of the question is the dairyman’s side ; we 
should protect him also while we are endeavoring to protect the 
public, and warn him against purchasing thoroughbred cows to 
increase the richness of his milk simply because he can buy the 
cow cheap. It would have been much better for all concerned 
if the price of the thoroughbred cow had remained high and 
beyond the reach of the average dairyman, for in that case there 
would have been an inestimably less amount of tuberculosis 
among our common cattle. 
When I opened up this present campaign against tubercu¬ 
losis I was well aware of the fact that I was sacrificing money, 
practice and some friends ; I knew that I was exposing myself 
to unjust criticisms, abuse and falsehoods, but it did not deter 
me ; I have waged the war now for more than two months and 
the result is that the public is acquainted with facts they should 
have known long ago, and the great majority is on our side and 
is demanding what we are contending for, and if I am not a 
false prophet we will have it in the very near future. 
This question involves very hard work, but after what we 
have already accomplished nothing should be considered too 
hard to attempt, and if you go at it earnestly we will succeed. 
My plan has been to force the question in season and out of 
season and make an object lesson on every possible occasion. 
When we have forced the institution of local dairy and meat 
inspection the breeders and dairymen will be only too glad to 
help us to force the State to make sufficient appropriation to 
make an effort to stamp out the disease, or at least to check its 
spread, and when a sufficient number of States go into the ques¬ 
tion it will soon be discovered that the question is a national 
one, and the national government will have to take hold of it 
and handle it after the manner in which pleuro-pneumonia was 
handled, and the sooner such a step is taken the less it will cost 
the nation. 
Mention should be made of the splendid work done by our 
efficient State Veterinarian ; many of you are aware of the stand 
he has taken in this war; he has put his shoulder to the wheel 
