Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-25
TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.
What is Being Done by the Commits
sion I'm Massachusetts.

Boston Letter to New York Post.
The Massachusetts, cattle commission has
compiled the statistics for the year ending
December Is. showing the number of cattle
Inspected for tuberculosis by voluntary re-
quest of the owners. The present law, I'M
der which fuH compensation has been al
lowed to farmers for cattle killed by order
of the commission, has been in force only
since June 5. iBefare then cattle might be
tested by the commission against the will of
the owner, and only half compensation was
allowed in case, the animal was found to be
diseased. So strong was the opposition that
the commissioners were limited by law in
the use of the 9uberculin test to those herds
whose owners requested them to use 1t.
This provision wilhcontinue until next July,
unless the law is changed. and then the test
may be compulsory again. From June 5 to
December IL the commission inspected 312
herds, containing 3,341 animals, and 26.5 per
cent of them were found to be diseased.
Under the law the commission cannot al
low more than $50 for one animal, but some
farmers are SO DESTROYS to have their herds
free from the disease that they offer to wait
1or their compensation till the legislature
can appropriate the money, and some have
even onered to go without compensation, If
only their herds can be purified from this
disease. -. -
Inc commission Is gathering facts which
lndlcate that the danger to mankind from
consumption contracted from cows is great
or IMAM mas been supposed An apparently
Weii-detIned case in swine due to the use of
mix VIII be reported upon when it has been
proved beyond doubt. In two other cases
the evidence is that the disease is contained
IN the blood, and hence the question be-
GENES or direct personal interest to all who
ear tneir beef somewhat rare, without sub
JecIing II to a temperature high enough to
oEs.soy the life of the germs. The cases
alluded to were of swine which had access
10 Inc blood Of suharculous cattle, but to no
other part of the body
In each case. when the swine were killed
ane ~ We're found to be badly diseased, espe-
cially IN the alimentary canal. In one of
these cases the swine had been previously
tested, and found free from disease. In the
other, other animals of the same lot kept
Slcsc by, but without the blood diet, were as
nealthy as ever when killed. The evidence
IS regarded by the commission in each case
as conclusive that tuberculosis can be COM
: t e by the blood. More care than
formerly Is paid to the udders of slaugh-
tered cows, and a larger percentage of dis
ease is found in them
lhefe are about OF 900 cattle in the state
ana ABOUT 100000 of these have not been ex-
ahmed, so that, If the percentage of &c s
should be general there are 80 900 tubercu-
ious cows In the state now Under the law
an cattle brought III from outside of Massa-
t ti.setts must be, subjected to the test, so
Ia none put healthy animals are passed by
me inspectors. The farmers renew the
places OF those which have been slaughtered
oy taxing those warranted free from dis
ease. Though the, disease clines to the
stalis where the cows are kept, yet there is
no danger of infection, for the new stock,
II care De taken to disinfect the place, for
some OF the remedies applied are so power
ful that they will penetrate a brick wall or
therein. e
IL is the growing belief of the commission.
SehnrEied by their many experiments and
Dy the experience of foreign countries, that
tnere Is much danger of consumption to man
from contact with tuberculous COWS. and
.nat sa1ety consists only in the total re-
moVal or the cause of the disease