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1908]
250
whether surrendered to or seized by the sanitary authority, the whole of the
loss fell upon the butcher who bought it, while the farmer who either raised it
or fattened it sustained no loss. As a matter of trade, the question has no
interest for health authorities, except in the sense that they cannot close their
eyes to the fact that where a man stands to lose the price of an animal, that
is to say between £18 and £30 according to its weight, and when he is to
receive no compensation for its destruction, a great temptation is placed before
him to sell the meat surreptitiously; for it is undoubtedly a hardship on him
that he alone should bear not only a heavy pecuniary loss, but possibly in addition
the risk of having to explain in a court of justice why he had a diseased
carcase on his premises, in course of preparation for sale. And yet it may
happen that neither he, nor indeed a veterinary surgeon, could tell while the
animal was alive that it was diseased. In looks, when alive, it
might have appeared to be quite healthy, and yet when dead the carcase
might disclose a state of generalized tuberculosis. Now, while the butcher has
not a fair opportunity of examination, the farmer has, for he can, if he chooses
to do so, have his animals tested with the tuberculin test to ascertain if they
are suffering from tuberculosis, a disease which has caused serious
loss to butchers. The farmers say that the butchers can protect themselves
by insuring against loss, while the butchers with equal reason, say to
them: " you can do the same, and also protect us from loss with a warranty."
The proper way to arrive at a solution of this question is to inquire by whose
neglect, default,or sufferance the herds of this country are as tuberculous as they
are known to be ? When one considers it in this light, it appears to the writer
that in the first instance it is due to the breeders of the cattle, who either
through ignorance or neglect, allowed their animals to become so generally
infected by failing to adopt preventive measures; and in the
second instance, to the various Governments, who have failed to pass
legislation for the eradication or prevention of tuberculosis among cattle. The
question is now a national one, and if farmers, whether breeders or feeders,
are not to be ruined in the stamping out process, for stamped out the disease
must be, the purse of the taxpayer must be opened by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer. The policy of drift has gone on for years. It is time in the
paramount interest of the health of the people that it should cease. Meanwhile
it would be well that breeders made certain that the cattle from which they
breed are free from tuberculosis, and so make a beginning. The English
pedigree breeds are of world wide fame, and among them there are surely
to be found healthy animals in sufficient numbers to start anew breeds of