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Penmaenmawr Territorials.

----------W - Tribute to a…

.--...-A Tale of a Cow.

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A Tale of a Cow. To the Editor of THE WEEKLY NEWS. Sir,—The purity of our food supplies is a matter of the first importance, and the Act for the Prevention of Adulteration of Food and Drugs was passed to atlain that object. At the same time, it may well be urged that zeal has out-run knowledge in the attempts now being made to fasten upon the harmless Cow, the heaviest share of responsibility for the ravages of consumption and kindred disease. This applies more especially in the case of Notth Wales, a country renowned for the soundness of its herds of cattle, the unanimous testimony of dealers being to the effect that even the old cows which they buy and kill are found to be remarkably free from any form of disease. Is it unreasonable to enquire whether sufficient stress has been laid upon the real contributory causes of consumption. Such for example as hereditary tendencies, quickened into vital activity through poor and insufficient nourishment, unwholesome, squalid and badly ventilated dwellings, together with a train of other insanitary evils, only too prevalent among certain classes of the people. Through the agency of the press and from various local authorities, most disquieting statements have been circulated relating to the dangers attending the milk supply both in town and country. As affording strong presumptive evidence that many of these statements are exaggerated, and that much can be said on the other side, permit me to subjoin a few re-assuriug facts :— (I). It has never been scientifically proved that bovine tuberculosis is commuuicable to the human subject. (2). The late Professor Koch, of Germany, the greatest bacteriologist in Europe, was of opinion that it was not communicable, and with his opinion, not all, but many medical men are in full accord. (3). If milk is such a fruitful source of con- sumption and kindred diseases, how does it come that the victims of these diseases are most commonly found, not in families where milk is abundantly used, but in homes where little or none of ii, ever enters ? In your last issue H A Family Doctor," says The paler children are given sometimes as much as two pints of fresh milk every day and they simply hlossoin forth (4) Where would you find a stronger and healthier race of men and women than among the peasantry of Scotland, and these men and women were reared from infancy almost exclusively on a diet of porridge and milk ? The same may be said of Ireland, substituting potatoes for porridge. (5) A lean cow is not necessarily an unhealthy cow in fact, the best milkers are generally of this description, not beefy. In a series of tuberculin tests, undertaken at an Agricultural College Farm, the leanest and most emaciated looking cow in the herd was found to be perfectly free from disease. Speaking from long experience, I venture to counsel the consumers of milk in North Wales to go on drinking- it freely, fearlessly and thankfully. Indispensable in youth, it has remained throughout the world's history the best and safest article of food at every period of man's existence, and the greater the supply the better the results.—I am, &c., 17th Dec., 1910. A. BORTHWICK.

Denbighshire EducationI Authority.'

Sir J. Herbert Roberts, Bart.,…

..--.1a..-4-Abergele Smithfield

...---.--.. A Right Merrie…

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