The Columbus journal., 1884-04-02
tuberculosis In Cattle and PeSple.

Veterinarians, held at Brussels last year,
there was an exhaustive discussion Of
the following questions relating to tub
erculosis, phthisis. or consumption, a.
Il is commonly known:
First-What is the influence q hered-
ity upon its propagation?
Second-What is the influence Of con-
tagion?
Third-What are the primitive meas
ures to be employed against the bad
influence that may be produced by the
utilization of the meat and milk of ani-
mails affected with the disease?
The conclusion is reached that tuber-
Gle is p~ropagated by hereditary and
contagion, and numerous cases were
cited in support Of this view. As to
the infectious nature of the disease
there has been little dissent, especially
since the discovery of the bacillus OF
tubercle. In view of the fact that con-
sumption is transmissible by infection.
the Importance of adopting such meas
ures as will prevent propagation OF
disease was recognized. In opening the
discussion MI. Lydtin said: ''Phthisis
is SO common q disease that it deserves
before any other ailment the name OF
universal panzotoic. This disease not
only touches the preservation OF U
cattle, but also the health of man. II
we succeed in solving the question we
shall have reached q noble object-that
of protecting at the same time the
prosperity and health of the public"
The following resolutions were pres
ented. as embodying the opinions Of tho
veterinarians there assembled, and may
be taken as embOdying the views OF
many if not most of the s~cietific men
who have made this matter q special
study:
tuberculosis is q malady which 10
transmissible by heredity and by conts-
gion. 1t is a disease which should be
combated by sanitary police measures.
Every stock-owner should be CON-
PEELED to declare to the authorities the
existence of tuberculosis among his
animals, and should give notice when
he observes any symptoms which lead
him to suspect the existence Of the dis
order. 1t should also be compulsory
to put the suspected animals in such .
position as will prevent risk of the eK-
tension of disease to other animals.
This obligation is to be made to apply
to every person having charge of
animals in transit, and also to the
owners of stables or pastures in which
animals are kept. The anne Obliga-
ton to give notice of tuberculosis is to
rest upon all veterinary surgeons or
persons concerned in treatment of the
diseases of domestic animals also on
all whose business it is to de-
stroy or utilize or in any
a manipulate the carcasses OF
animals. The existence of the disease
and its locality is to be made public.
and even in the herd in which it has
appeared is to be named.
Meat from tuberculosis animals is
not to be sold for consumption unless
il is certain that the disease was in the
~incipient stage, and that the meat
presents the appearance of being first
class in quality.
The inspection of animals afflicted
with tuberculosis is to he performed by
q veterinary surgeon who is to be sole
Judge as to the fitness or otherwise vi
the meat for human food.
Milk of diseased animals is not to be
used for food of man or animals, and
milk of animals which are suspected Of
contamination is no to be used until
after it has been boiled.
Compensation to owners of diseased
animals for losses sustained from the
operation of the above police measures
is to be provided by the State; and, Al
8 means for providing the necessary
funds, it is proposed to adopt n system
of compulsory insurance. every owner
of cattle being compelled to subscribe .
certain sum in proportion to the size Of
his herd.
The popular idea in America has been
that the domestic animals of this cOun.
try, especially the neat cattle, are al
most entirely free from contagious dis
eases, but in the strong light thrown
upon the matter by the Investigations
following England's act in ~fOrbidding
the admission of American cattle, the
truth has become widely known. 1t is
found that contagious pleurO-pneu-
monia has had an almost uninterrupted
existence in the United States for many
years; anthrax, lung-worms and Span
ish or Texas fever Kill many cattle each
year, and actinOmycosis has been seen
almost every day of the last Ten years,
at least in the cattle markets Of the
West. Milk. butter and meat convey
to mankind the living germs of tubercu-
losis, with which there is no doubt the
cattle of America are more or less AZ
fected. BY this means this dread dis
ease, which has killed more people than
have been killed by wars, is kept in ex-
istence and its hold upon the people Is
extended day by day.
According to the conclusions reached
by NJ. Daremburg. and set forth by him
before the Academy of Medicine Of
Paris, tuberculosis is transmissible by
incubation, inhalation, or by ailments
ton; it is always caused by the absorp-
ton of a germ from without; when Oc-
curing by inhalation the quantity Of
the contagiOn is of little moment; it can
operate only in a suitable soil. COnta-
gion is an influence to which all are ex-
posed, but which is operative only in
those individuals in whom hereditary
or acquired vices of nutrition have pre-
pared q field suited to the growth and
reproduction of the germ. Local and
general tuberculosis differ only in de-
gree. Scrofula appears to be a disthe-
sis, while tuberculosis is an infection
engrafted upon a diathesis. The infec-
tious germs are not usually inherited,
but rather the vices of nutrition which
have provoked the disease in the aHces-
tors. Finally, the learned gentleman
concludes that the destruction, through
attention to general hygiene, of the
causes which prepare a fit soil for the
reeeptionof the germs. should be a prin-
cipal object in the treatment of the dis
ease. After the disease is established
the attack should be made upon the..in-
fectious agent, to put a stop to its exis-
tence and increase Chicago Tribune.
Breaks i'm Wool.
Farmers who keep sheep are some
times painfully surprised when the
wool is examined by q buyer to find the