Middletown transcript., 1895-05-11
TUBERCULOSIS.

History of the Tests Made In Delaware.
The Manufacture of Tuberculin-Publis
Opinion Regarding Bovine Consumption.
All told, this station has been concerned
in the test of 935 milch cows, more than
900 of which were in New Castle county.
Of the total list, 1856 head, or 19 $40 per
cent, have been condemned.
Three hundred and ninety head have
been examined during the year ending on
this date. Of these, SO only, or 10 per
cent. have been rejected The stations vet
erinarian has carried out 1870 of these tests
in his private practice, either in herds be-
longing to wealthy people who wished to
guard their families and their live stock,
or in herds belonging to retailers who were
compelled by their customers to take this
step. Ten per cent Of his cases were con-
sumptives. In most Of this work he has
used tuberculin prepared by this station.
The director has personally examined IS
cases, condemning four head only. These
investigations were made with a double
motive-flrst, to test the tuberculin man
ufaetured at this station, and, second. to
carry out studies touching the heredity of
bovine tuberculosis, the thoroughness of
the tuberculin test and similar questions
on which opinions are frequently request
ed by correspondents.
Finally 2O2 cases have been examined
by young land owners and herdsmen who
are either impressed with the necessity Of
beginning life with healthy stock or else
find favorable business opening in the
sale of guaranteed milk. These men test
ed several hundred COWS with the director
of the station before they assumed the re-
sponsibility of personally directing this
work. They have provided themselves
with the necessary instruments, and now
In purchasing milch COVE they insist upon
rejecting those which do not stand the
test. In every instance they have been
supplied with tuberculin by this station.
THE PREPARATION OF TUBERCULIN.-
The high prices demanded for the import
ed product and the difficulties experienced
in securing the necessary supply led to at
tempts to prepare it at Newark. The bac-
teriologist can now produce it at the rate
of 200 doses per week. The supply on
hand at present is sufficient for the test of
moro than 500 cows This homemade
product responds promptly to all Of the
archaeological and biological tests pro-
posed by Koch. In barn practice it has
been rigidly compared with the imported
article, and entire confidence in it has been
established. With single exception-yiz,
the department of agriculture in Washing
ton-no other institution in this country is
reported to be engaged in its preparation.
This work has placed large supply of the
microscopic plant which causes consump-
tion at the disposal of the stations chem
ist. and, as occasion arises, studies Of 1t
will be instituted
PUBLIC OPINIoN.-The first reports as
to the extent of the disease tuberculosis
among mich cows shocked the farmers,
each supposing that his own district was
especially affected Recent tests indicate
that not less than IA states have suffered
in their college farm herds, and the proba-
bilities are that the disease exists in all
sections OF the country. Every effort is
now made to neutralize the fear caused by
exaggerated reports in the daily press, and
sometimes the matter is overdone. s
Recently a paper of the highest repute
published the statements of man Of
standing to this effect:
First-Tuberculin Is an unreliable
agent, for
(a) 1t fails to detect cases of encysted
tuberculosis.
(b) 1t reacts when an animal is affected
not with tuberculosis, but with certain
other diseases, including cancer and pleuro-
pneumonia.
Second.-Tuberculin is dangerous
agent, for
(a) 1t generalizes an encysted and dor
mant tuberculosis and renders animals
which were harmless extremely dangerous
to milk consumers.
(b) 1t condemns COWS which are affect
ed with tuberculosis in organs other than
the udder and cows with udder tuberculo-
sis are alone generally recognized as men
aces to milk consumers. B
This man now claims that he was not
correctly reported by the paper. The fact
remains, however. that portion of the
agricultural public has eagerly taken up
the story as sufficient reason for calling
halt in the use OF tuberculin. This por-
tion of the community is driven to this
position by its absolute inability to stand
the losses which are anticipated in case
all herds come under test.
The experience of this station with
nearly 1000 cows, extending over period
of nearly two years, fails to afford support
to any one of the above objections to tu-
berculin. For. if encysted and dormant
tuberculosis escapes tuberculin, the COW
remains in the herd II tuberculin arouses
this dormant disease and generalizes it,
the COW must quickly pine away and die.
Her carcass, then, must show the LESSONS
of consumption. Seven hundred and fifty
tested cows are now standing In this coun-
ty. Not one single case to support the
above statement has existed. Within a
month, written assertions from the owners
of said COWS have been filed here, denying
that any cases Of pining or similar trouble
have followed the use of this test in their
herds.
The claim that animals suffering with
other diseases react to tuberculin can be
met with this reply. If true, and If these
other diseases can be detected in no other
way. then tuberculin is much more valu-
able than 1t is supposed to be, for animals
suffering from any of the said diseases
SHOULD not be allowed to remain In the
herd.
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