The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-13

tuberculosis is not respecter of breeds.
The disease once introduced into herd
spreads with certainty throughout, and
with rapidity proportionate to the
unsanitary surroundings. Cattle kept
in well ventilated stables, with free
admission OF sunlight, are less prone TO
the disease, while those kept in dark,
ill-ventilattd stables, amid filth and
unsanitary environments, develop the
disease rapidly, once it is introduced
1.-THE Investigations of this commits
sion have shown that tuberculosis is,
under certain conditions, congental,
but its general diffusion is due to con-
tagion. But a very small proportion of
tuberculosis is disseminated by heredi.
tary transmission. All the facts in the
possession of this commission, as re-
suit OF Investigate IN, show that tubercu.
losis spreads with certainty when dis
eased and eaLhy animals are housed
together. The contagiousness of the
disease is established beyond doubt,
for in most cases it can be traced from
herd to herd IN localities where dairy
men deal with each other in the pur-
chase of cattle from infected herbs.
The LESSONS found on post m )rtem ex.
animation are variable from small de.
posits Of cascated tn 1erces to gener.
ally disseminated LESSONS in different
viscera. In many cases the udders
have been found to be the seat of ex
tensive disease. Some cases of adj
vanced disease were found in the udder
from which pus was seen to exude from
the teats.
"Hitherto the great obstacle to the
| aradIaat finn nf hio diaoaoa hao
difficulty of diagnosis. Within the past
three years, however, it was discovered
that tuberculin, product of the bacil-
lus tuberculosis, as means of diagno-
sis, is so accurate that a competent
veterinarian can now point out any
diseased animal. This agent is sensi-
tive when tubercu GUS processes are
present, and the reaction following its
use is practically certain; and, more
over, this agent is perfectly innocuous
in non-tuberculous animals. This has
been abundantly proven by numerous
experiments by the bureau of animal
industry at Washington and elsewhere.
Professor Law, as a member of this
commission, has experimental with it
at Cornell University, and reports that
no uutoward effects are produced by
tuberculin in test dosrs in cattle that
are free from tuberculosis. This COM
mission has experimental with the i'm.
ported Koch tuberculin and with the
tuberculin from the bureau of animal
industry at Washington, and finds that
they are equal in value as diagnostic
agents. These products have been
used side by side in the work of exam
ination by our inspectors with equal
results.
tuberculosis in cattle has been
found to exist wherever examinations
have been made. There are, of course,
many herds entirely free from it, vet it
has been found to exist oftentimes by
our commission when least expected.
The affected animals many times show
no evidence by objective signs, being
well nourished, and giving good flow
of milk. Therein lies the danger, be-
cause these animals afford long and
continuous opportunity for disseminat-
ing the disease. By the certain means
of diagnosis now employed it is pos
sible to eliminate tuberculous cattle
from any herd al cost that would be
small compared with the steady loss en-
tailed hitherto by the neglect of all pre-
cautions against the spread of the dis.
ease.
Tuberculous cattle are valuable to
the state only when dead, and inspec-
ton and cOnfiscation could never be
detrimental to the interests of the hon
est dairyman, especially if liberal COM
pensation were granted under we'll
defined conditions. tits therefore neces-
sary that there should be some regular
inspection of cattle in order that any
affected should be eliminated from the
milk supply. These should at once b ,
destroyed, as both their flesh and milk
are unfit for food. There should be de.
sised some central authority, conform
ably to the genius of our government,
with authority to exercise continuous in
spection in this line; for, as will be seen
from the Investigations Of this commits
sion, this is not work to be taken up
in season and afterward laid aside
There should be some supervision of
our meat and milk supply.
1.-The object lessons given by this
commission have been of incalculable
benefit to the people in the work of
disseminating knowledge concerning
the behavior of the disease, and many
dairymen are now engaged in examin-
ing their own cattle. The stamping
out policy can now be put into action
by rigorous inspection, first directed in
the distributing centers and milk sup
plies of municipalities and diaries sup
plying milk to cheese factories, cream.
cries and condensories, after which ex-
animation should extend to more remote
districts. Such action would be speedily
followed by the complete extinction of
the disease. The question is one of
political economy in the improvement
of the dairy interests and the betterment
of public health. While it is admitted
that this work will involve large ex-
peuditure, ultimate gain to the agricul-
turists and to the saving of human life
will be beyond estimation"