Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-02
tuberculosis in Cattle.

New York is the latest state to under
take the work of Graduating tuberculosis
from it's herds Massachusetts is already
we'll along in this direction. 1t will be
remembered with what burst Of indig-
nation the press and farmers of the old
Bay state greeted the report of the Maine
cattle commission several years ago, in
which the statement was made that Mas
sachusetts was fairly honeycombed with
tuberculosis. Vehement denials were
made yet subsequent Developments have
shown that the statement was substan-
TALLY correct. When the Legislature of
Massachusetts finally awoke to the gravity
of the matter, and appropriated funds for
the purpose of freeing the herds of the
state from this dread disease, the reveal
tions made were astounding.
BY the use of tuberculin the tests made
upon cattle are absolutely accurate
There is no chance for any mistake
Frequently this test shows the presence
of tuberculosis when all methods of ex-
animation fail. 1t has been found that
very large percentage Of Massachusetts,
cattle are afflicted with this disease and
to such an extent has the slaughter of
such diseased cattle been necessary that
the farmers who under the existing laws
received only portion of the value of the
animals thus destroyed, have demanded
that the state assume all the expense.
There is an element of justice in this
position, for certainly the people of the
whole state have a very important in
terestsin this subject.
1t is no longer matter of doubt but
what the dread disease consumption can
be, and perhaps. has been more frequently
than in most any other way, transferred
in milk. Within few years promi-
nent scientist called attention to the fact
that with the natives of countries where
goats milk was exclusively used, tubercu-
losis was a practically unknown disease.
that wherever the milk of bovine ami
mails had been used by the human race
consumption was always found. While
we may question the serious deductions
which this man made as to the origin of
tuberculosis in the bovine species, there
can be no doubt but what large percen-
tage of its spread has been occasioned
by the use of milk from diseased cows.
1t is a matter of the heartiest congratu-
lation to the people of Maine, which was
one of the first states to move in this
matter that tuberculosis has been practi
cally eradicated from our State. 1t is
found now only in rare and isolated
cases, and these are always promptly at
tended to. When every state in the
Union has taken measures to purge its
cattle of this disease, one of the most
common and insidious means for tits
transmission will have been done away
with.
The results which have followed: : the
first experiments in New York show
that very large amount of work will
have to be done there before the herds of
that state are placed in healthy condi-
ton. The report of the state commits
sion on tuberculosis in cattle recently
made to the Legislature shows that of
947 animals examined. IS were con-
demned and slaughtered and in every
case dissection showed it to be tuberculo-
sis, making 6.96 per cent. of diseased cat |
tie. This is regarded a very fair average
of the state in general.
We certainly trust that this good work |
may be pushed forward, not only in New |
York, but in all the states of the Ameri-
can Union, until this common channel
for the dissemination Of the most hopeless
disease now known to medical science
may be effectually and permanently
closed.