Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-01-26
tuberculosis.

IuDcTCulOSlS.
Nature and Characteristic Of the Dis-
ease---the Danger to MnniSind---IIigh-
lybrcd Herds Oncnest Attacked.
The Maine state board of health has issu-
ed an interesting pamphlet on the "Conta-
giou' and parasite diseases of animals"
which contains much that is valuable and
! instructive. From the chapter devoted to
! tuberculosis the following is taken, as be-
ing of special interest and Importance at
this time, when, in Vermont and in adj
! joining states, there have been serious out
breaks Of the disease. TO this it may be
added that tuberculosis seems oftenest to
occur in highly bred herds, and that there
seems to be little doubt that the forcing
system, by intensive feeding, and the other
methods followed by modern breeders,
tends to encourage susceptibility to the
disease.
tuberculosis or the pearl disease" is
essentially the same disease as human
consumption. 1t is both contagious and
hereditary, but contagion, in animals, at
least, is a greater factor in its propagation
than heredity. OF the domestic animals,
cattle and swine show the greater predis-
position to tuberculosis; through others are
liable to contract the disease when exposed
to its infection. Undoubtedly the contagion
is received into the system, in the natural
way, almost always by inhalation or by
swallowing experimentally it is found
that it may be communicated to many
kinds of animals by incubation and by
f1,,r
between the receipt of the infection and
the appearance of the disease is usually
very long. The course of the disease va
ries greatly, the symptoms developing either
rapidly or slowly; hence we have the dis
ease lasting three months or less, or extend
ing over months or years In some cases
it follows an insidious or concealed course,
and quite extensive changes may occur in
the lungs and other organs while yet the
animal suffers but little change in its eXter-
nal appearance. Usually, however, it is
seen that the animal is not benefited as it
ought to be by food. The appetite is often
caprCOUs, the skin looks duh and the hair
dirty. cough may or may not be noticeable;
when it is, it is more likely to be after
taking food or drink, or when hurried.
Later in the course of the disease, loss of
flesh is marked, the cough becomes trouble
some, and there is often diarrhul. In
cows the flow Of milk may not be dimin-
i>hcd until the disease has lasted some
time
The most characteristic appearance
which is shown by a post mortem eXami-
nation is that presented by the So-called
pearl tumors' or grapes as butchers
often call them. These tubercuar new
formations vary in size from that Of a pea
or smaller to that of an egg. They are
often continent, and one apparent mass
may weigh several pounds. These tu7er-
cules are found most frequently in the
lungs and on the smooth membrane which
covers them; they are also often found on
the membrane which covers the bowels.
Between tuberculosis and pleuro-pneu-
monia there are many points of resem-
blance Both are contagious, the period
of incubation in tuberculosis is long and it
may be in pleuro-pneumonia; fever and
the lung symptoms are common to both,
the disease in both often assumes a con
cealed form, dangerous to the rest of the
herd from the difficulty of its recognition. |
When either disease is suspecte the de- |
termination of its character should be |
made by the veterinary surgeon.
Feeding experiments have concusively |
shown that tuberculosis may be transmitted |
by means of the milk or flesh of the dis
eased animals. Therefore prevention has |
to regard both the danger to other animals |
and to man. The milk from COWS with |
this disease, even in its earliest stages, or |
when suspected, should never be used |
as human food. The flesh should |
never be used unless the disease is in its |
earliest stages and is so localized that the
tubercular growth can be entirely removed;
even then, though it is not proved that the
eating of such meat may give rise to the
disease, there is a chance to doubt its
wholesomeness ard fitness as human food.
All diseased and suspected animals should
be kept from other animals and the dis
eased ones slaughtered at once. Infected
stalls and managers should be disinfected at
once. The better way would be to replace
the wood work with new.