Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-03-10
a. HrJlETUR1L.
he Milk of TubercuIOUs Cat
tie Ns Food.

That the milk of diseased cows anf
fsring from tuberculosis is deterioratst
in quality there cannot be doubt, anc
We have already noticed in what this
deterioration consists but that it's use
as food is likely to ind uce phthisis, we
are only now commencing to obtain
proofs.
Klebs Gan author) has carried out a
series Of experiments on various ami
mails to test the action Of this milk
when given as food, and has been
successful in inducing tuberculosis in
them. In addition TO rabbits and
Guines-rigs-creatures which appear
to be extremely susce' tibls to the ar,
tifclal production Of the diseaee-he
accidentally produced the disease in a
dog by giving it the milk from a COW
in the last stage of the malady. The
results Of his experiments led him to
the conclusion that the use of this milk
always produces tuberculosis, which
first commences az intestinal cata,rh.
and then assumes the form of tubercles
in the mesenleric glands it afterwards
attacks the liver and spleen, and sub
sequently the thoracic organs. He Az
serts that the tuberculosis virus exist
in the milk Of phthisical cows, wheth-
er they are slightly or seriously affect.
cd, and that it is chiefly in the serum
a. when the milk has been 80 intiltra
ted as to deprive it OF its sold partl-
cles, the fluid portion appeared to be
rs active as the unfil.'ated, 1ts viz.
ulency is not DESTROYED by ordinary
cooking, .s it is all the mole active AS
the disease has reached an advanced
stage. He admits that It may pro
duce no injurious effects in vigorous
subjects, and he has Observed fully de-
veloped tubercules to be absorbed and
disappear after time. He thinks it
proba bic that the virus Of tubercnlos
is may exist in varying proportions in
the milk Of phlhiscs cows, according
TO the extent of the disease in them;
and he is Of further opinion that the
ma ady may be developed in children
born without any tendency to 1t,
through the medium Of the milk Of the
mother or muse.
The commencement Of phthisis is
generally so insidious in the human
species that it is most difficult to ar
rive with any degree Of certainty at
the causes which directly produce or
favor its development; but FROM the
evidence before us. it is TO be feared
that at least one Of its sources may be
referred to this fluid. II is certain
that tuberculosis is q somewhat COM
mon and very destructive disesse,
among dairy cattle especially, and
more particularly those i'll towns; that
the udder is one of the g lands not IN.
frequently involved; that infants and
adults consume milk in large guam l.
ties indeed. it is the staple diet OF
young children-and that phthisis s
a very prevalent and fatal nAlady in
the human species, and chiefly among
the dwellers in towns and cities
There is every reason, then, to pro
hibit the use OF milk from cows affect.
ed with tuberculosis, and especially
for infants, who mainly re'y npon this
fluid for their snstenance, and whose
powers Of absorption are very active.
Even if it did not possess infective
properties, its deficiency in nitroge-
nous elements, and fat and sugar, and
the increased proportion Of earthly
matters, would alone render 1t An OBJ
jectionaole al ticle Of diet. 1t had long
been known that it was liable to pro-
duce diar,hpa and debility in infants,
but though these died from general or
localized tuberculosis, the part played
by the milk in its production was not
suspected.