The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-25
Tuberculosis in Cattle and People.

Tuberculosis in Cattle and People.
At the International Congress Of
Veterinarians, held at Brussels last year,
there was an exhaustive discussion of
the following questions relating to tub
erculosis, phthisis, or consumption, as
it is commonly known:
First-What is the influence of 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 ami
mails affected with the disease?
The conclusion is reached that tuber-
Gle is propagated 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 Mr.. Lydtin said: "Phthisis
is so common a disease that it deserves
before any other ailment the name of
universal panzotoic. This disease not
only touches the preservation of our
cattle, but also the health of man. If
we succeed in solving the question we
shall have reached a 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 the
veterinarians there assembled, and may
be taken rs ombody ing the views Of
many if not most of the scietific men
who have made this matter a special
study:
tuberculosis is a malady which is
transmissible by heredity and by conta-
giOn. 1t is disease which should be
combated by sanitary police measures.
Every stock-owner should be COM
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 a
position as will prevent risk of the ex-
tension Of disease to other animals.
This obligat ton 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 same 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
way 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
it 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 be performed by
veterinary surgeon who is to be sole
! Judge as to the fitness or otherwise OF
the meat for human food.
| Milk of diseased animals is not to bt
used for food of man or animals, anC
milk of animals which are suspected o
contamination is not to be used unit
after it has been boiled.
Compensation to owners of diseased
animals for losses sustained from tn;
operation of the above police measure
is to be provided by the State; and, a
means for providing the necessary
funds, it is proposed to adopt system
Of compulsory Insurance. every Owne
of cattle being compelled to subscribe {
certain sum in proportion to the size o
his herd.
The popular idea in America has beef
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 throw
upon the matter by the Investigation
following Englands act in forbidden!
the admission of American cattle, tn
truth has become widely known. 1t
found that contagious pleuro-pneu
monia has had an almost uninterruptet
existence in the United States for man
wears; anthrax, lung-worms and Span
ish or Texas fever kill many cattle eac
year, and actinomycosis has been see
almost every day of the last ten years
at least in the cattle markets of tn
West. Milk, butter and meat conve
to mankind the living germs of tubercu
losiS, with which there is no doubt tn
cattle of America are more or less al
fected. BY this means this dread dis
ease, which has killed more people thai
have been killed by wars, is kept in ez
istence and its hold upon the people
extended day by day.
According to the conclusions reache
by NJ. Daremburg, and set forth by hiI
before the Academy of Medicine {
Paris, tuberculosis is transmissible b
incubation, inhalation, or by ali &kenta
ton: it is always caused by the ABSORB
ton of germ from without; when OF
curing by inhalation the quantity {
the contagion is of little moment; it ca
a operate only in suitable soil. Conts
T. gion is an influence to which all are e.
= posed, but which is operative only
! those individuals in whom hereditar
or acquired vices of nutrition have pr,
+. pared a field suited to the growth an
reproduction of the germ. Local an
|. general tuberculosis differ only in d.
). gree. Scrofula appears to be diath
sis. while tuberculosis is an infeotio
engrafted upon Il diathesis. The infe
tious germs are not usually inherite'
nut rather the vices of nutrition whic
c have provoked the disease in the ance
II tors Finally, the learned gentlema
e concludes that the destruction, throug
d attention to general hygiene, of Il
r causes which prepare a fit soil for tt
/ reception of the germs, should be a pril
= cipal object in the treatment of the di
"a ease. After the disease is establisht
. the attack should be made upon the il
fectiouS accent to mt a StOn to its eXi