Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-03-23
tuberculosis and the Tuberculln Test.

luDeTCulOSlS anu Cne luDeTCulln ltSJ.
EDITOR or TmE AGE:-.N Il time
when there is so much wild and
foolish talk in regard to tubcrcu-
loSiS, it is refreshing to find that
Vermont, as represented by her
board of agriculture, is taking hold
of the matter in 4 business like way.
The boards proclamation of the
quarantine of all cattle entering the
state is good as far as il goes, and if
tuhcrculm is I'm absolutely safe test
it will prevent the admission of dis
cascd animals into the state. But it
is vet to be proved that tubrrculin is
safe enough to he used indiScrimin.
atclv. That some So-callcd Scicn-
titic men claim that it is. proves
nothing, as there is no class of men
who have had to take back more
than these same medical scientists.
When tubcrculm was first dlscov-
cred it was hailed as Il sure cure for
consumption, and many long disScr-
tationS were written in favor of it.
but after Il few months. and after the
death Of quite 4 number Of patients,
It's inctlicicncy for this purpose was
fully demonstrated.
There is no question but that tu-
bcrculin, inicc.cd into COW. will
arouse into malignant activity tuhcr-
Giles which have been rncvStcd in
some part OF the anatomy of the ami
NAL. where they might have lain
dormant until She died of old age.
doing no harm to the COW. or to any
one using the milk and butter of
such animal. And it is also fact
that ubtrculin ilIraisr the temper
allure Of an animal not suffering with
tubcrcular disease. This is proven
bv the records of the New York
state commission, where five ami
mails that were condemned bv the
test were allowed to live on the os-
tcn,iblr plea of securing the calves
carried by four of them, they being
strictly quarantined. Alterthcy had
their calves one of them was
slaughtered, showing no signs of the
disease. The other animal, were
all tested again by two state inspect
or>. with the result that not Il sign of
disease could be found in any of |
them. showing that in this case at
least the tuhrrculin test was not in
laIhhIc.
Prof. Guillchcan of the veterinary /
school at Bernc. Switzerland, claims
hat. OWING TO the great loss of cattle
and danger to the milk 10y the use of
,ubcrculin, it ought never to be made
obligatory hN law. DR.. W. l.. /lull
Expresses himself in 4 similar man
lcr. after having conducted a very
exhaustive inquiry into the diagnos-
ic value of the lymph, and declares
that it is not reliable.
While thi, may be the case. there is
10 question but that it is the best
lgcn, we know of to test the pres
nee of this disease.
In view of the disagreement OF
hcSc authorities in regard to the
afcty or reliability of the tuhrrcllin
est, would it not be best. instead of
Unfortunately Strengthening all the
nmals which show rise of tenn
,craturc, to frs, find out bN malavsiS
whether or not the milk of such ami
nails contains germs of the disease:
I is claimed that the baCilli has been
ound in the milk of cows who were
IN gone with this disease, and whose
ddcrs were badly affected. but that
his milk introduced into the human
ubicct has ever furnished the start
+ consumption there is no particle
{ proof as far as known.
1t is generally agreed by author.
cs ON tuberculosis that a large ma
,ritv of mankind can and do take
IL germs of consumption into the
,Ntcm without injury, myalids and
lose consumptivcN inclined being
,c exception. Where the disease i,
| the lungs or air passages, the in
renee is that the bacili was taken
| by breathing when it was in dry
and carried in the air as
ust. And if it be a fact that the
wv furnishes the chief stock of con-
mption seed, farmers and their |
miles should have fan; more of this t
Scasc than other people, for as Il
lie they use more milk and are con- |
antly in an atmosphere charged 4
18th the germs. But statistics prove
lat they are much more exempt
ON this disease than the jewellers \
CItlrS who never SOC n GOV, from