Milford chronicle., 1895-02-15
Tuberculosis and Tuber
oulIn

/ have no hesitation in stating
ing that our people are unnecessar-
ily alarmed regarding the danger Of
contracting tuberculosis from cows
milk. which fact is to be regretted,
as milk is one Of our most valuable
foodstufs. Itis perfect food made
up of albumen, casein, fat, sugar,
water and salts, formed in the lab
oratory Of nature for the support of
animal life. In fact, milk is a neces-
sary article of food for the human
family. In childhood and sickness
milk is often the only food that can
be taken to sustain life. Yet the
present exaggerated scare regarding
the danger Of contracting tuberculo-
sis through the use of milk is so
general that physicians in Pennsyl-
vania are experiencing much diff
Guilty in persuading their patients to
use cows milk literally without
more or less nervous tension on the
part ofthe sick, which fact is to be
greatly deplored.
In talking with the lay people ]
find that they have learned the
truth to the extent that consump.
tion is very prevalent in the COW,
but they do not realize the fact that
a large majority of the bacteriolo-
gists OF the world have searched
most diligently for the tubercle ba-
cilus in the milk of COWS suffering
from consumption, and as yet have
only found the germs in that taken
from animals affected with tubercu-
losis OF the milk glands and ducts,
which result is coupled with the fact
that comparatively few tuberculous
animals, particularly those suffering
from incipient consumption, are thus
affected. The milk, therefore, as
taken from the COW cannot be as i'm
portant a factor in causing consump-
tion as is generally believed by the
average consumer, and, / regret to
add, as is taught by many of the
veterinary profession.
In answer to the question regard
ing the general compulsory use Of
tuberculin as diagnostic agent for
tuberculous cattle, l can answer
most emphatically that 1 believe
in fact, I know-it would be a grave
mistake. While tuberculin is GER
tainly useful for diagnostic purposes
it is at the same time powerful
poison that is surrounded by posi-
bic dangers. In my laboratory ex- ,
periments have produced immun- !
ity in the lower animals by the use (
Of dead tubercle bacilli, plus the nj |
dus or medium in which they were I
grown, which represents tuberculin, /
yet produced, to say the least, a t
predisposition to the disease by the /
use of larger doses Of the same ma t
terial. Again, have fully satisfied v
myself that a latent or a very slow il
chronic localized condition of con- v
can be excited by the use b
into an active, acute tu- l
and occasionally without C
'ausing any rise of temperature at Il
he time of test. By its general and Is
use in cattle as di- a
gnostic agent, a comparatively Il
harmless tuberculosis would often b
'e famed into condition that
Tould often be famed into a condi- b.
ion that would render innocuous q
lilk to the consumer. 1t is, there a,
ore, my opinion that it should, with m
UT present knowledge of It's power at
Dr. good or bad, only be used to di- b,
gnose in cases where the doctor is
uspiciOus, but yet in doubt of the ~,
of tuberculosis.-Dr. Sam ..
el G. Dixon, of the Academy of h,
'atural Sciences at Philadelphia. %