The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-12-12
The Tuberculin Test.

The work of the cattle commission
ers in their warfare against tubercuo-
sis is creating general interest and in
some sections not a little exc tement.
From the central part of the state there
have come to the Farmer and Homes
few protests against the course of the
commissioners. Those who have studi ID
the question the most know that tu-
berculin is conceded to be harmless
to well animals and q comp .ratiyelv
sure test for those which are diseased.
AT recent meeting of the officers of
the experiment stations in Washington
tuberculosis was discussed and the fact
was brought out that at twelve stations
the tuberculin test had been made and
in all cases tested postmortem examin-
atoms had verified the test. Ten sta.
tions have, in addition to testing their
own herds, made or supervised tests in
private herds, and in an aggregation of
tests embracing ! 200 animals there has
been but single case or injurious eff
fects following the tuberculin treat
ment. The first weeks work at b cigh-
ton and WatertOwn resul ed very salts
factorily. Two hundred aud forty-one
animals were tested and out Of these
only thirty four failed TO pass. This
test is the largest ever made in this
country at single operation aud its
results are extremely interesting. The
majority of the dealers in cattle in
Brighton and Watertown acquiesce in
the conclusions of the commission and
favor the execution of the law. There
were a few cases where cattle owners
were not satisfied and these the com
mission has referred to an expert in
microscopy. Mr.. Richard Sturlevant,
whose interests in the cattle market are
among those of the largest voiced his
own opinion and those of many others
when he said to a representative of the
Farmer and Homes that he approved of
the work and hoped tina if any animals
came into his possession which were
diseased they would be taken by the
state and condemned at olce.
1t is unfortunate that the statement
has gone abroad through New England
that there is an effort on the part of
Massachusetts t. establish quarantine
against the other New England sta es.
Such quarantine has already existed
on the part of Maine and New Hamp-
shire and the act of Massachusetts, only
brings her into line with other states.
The herd of blooded cattle at the New
Hampshire agricultural college has
proved to be infected with the disease.
President Murklan1, on his return
from the meeting of agricultural COL
lege officers noted above, had an ex-
animation of the 81 cattle en- the farm
made by veterinarian and with the
result that nine were reported tubercu-
lous. The state board of cattle COM
missioners was informed of the result
and their veterinarian innoculated the
herd the second time, not knowing hat
it had already been done by the veteri
marian employed by the president.
The temperature records made By both
veterinarians agreed aud substantiated
the conclusion that nine ca tie were
affected. Several head of cattle in
fected with tuberculosis have also been
killed at Franklin in this state, and
four fancy thoroughbreds owned near
Boston were killed Monday There is
no need of any panic among the people
on account of these results. Tubercu-
Osis has existed in cattle for years.
There is proba 'ly no more Of it now
than there has been for long time.
In spite of this previlen of it, the
great majority of the human family has
not been affected by the disease. The
chances of healthy, active persons
catching" the disease are small.
Yet there is chance, and it is greater
in the case of invalids and infants than
of robust adults. 1t is well to remove
even this chance. All science points
to such precautionary measures; and as
q result of this the average of human
life is increased. The Can idian min
lister of agriculture has instituted a
quarantine against all cattle entering
the Dominion, and has ordered the tu-
berculin test to be applied to all ca tie
entering Canada.