The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-11-28
ABOUT TUBERCULOSIS.
DR.. Theobold Smith Tells Some Facts
About the Disease.

IQGODOlu ISllS some 6CbZ
About the Disease.
Since the recent raid made by State
Veterinarian Scott on the cattle of this
county and ordered a large number Of
r. S. Houston's herd destroyed, as
being infected with tuberculosis, a
great deal of curiosity has been ex-
pressed as to what the disease is. For
the purpose of enlightening our read
ers we have secured an article by DR..
Theobold Smith, chief of the division of
animal pathology of the national de-
partment of agriculture at Washington,
concerning it, the most pertinent points
| in which are as follows:
After stating that it is strictly a bac
terial or germ, he points out that it is
different in many respects from all
other germ diseases; that in Texas
fever for instance, or anthrax, the
germs multiply with incredible rapid
ity within the body and do their work
within a few days, while in tuberculO-
sis the process is exceedingly slow,
that there is no outward appearance
of any disease, and the disease may be-
come stationary and possibly heal.
In the former classes of disease the
destruction of all infected animals be-
comes absolutely imperative, while the
present wide dissemination of tuberCu-
losis and its prevalence among other
animals and man makes it's complete
extinction an lmpossibility. He then
sums up the conditions peculiar to the
disease as follows: First, it's present
wide dissemination, no territory being
absolutely free from it; second, the
large percentage of infected cattle
which are in the earlier stages of the
disease, or in which the LESSONS are in
significant, stationary or healed; third,
the absence of any disturbance of the
health for any considerable time after
infection; fourth, the possible trans
mission of tubercle vacili from animals
to man, more particularly in the milk.
He goes on to show that tuberculosis
is in the outset a strictly local disease
which may for years affect but one part
Of the body, or it may become general
and end fatally. The germs do not
live or multiply in the blood as in the
case of other diseases, but are simply
carried by the blood, in advanced cases,
from organ to organ g 1t is disease
long drawn out, presenting stages COW
ering months and years, the duration
of which, in other more rapid diseases,
is measured by days"
On the subject of contagiousness, he
states that fully 9-10 of all diseased
animals examined have been affected
by inhaling tubercule bacilli dried and
suspended in the air, and that only J
have been affected by taking the bacil-
Ii in the body as food; that one or TWO
per cent. of calves of advanced cases
are born infected, and that out of 200
COWS which the writer has examined,
but 2 per cent. has been transmitted by
heredity, and that only small per
cent of the diseased animals are active
Iy shedding tubercule bacilliand spread
ing disease; that the diseased animal is
the only manufacturer OF the germs and
that these germs having left the ami
NAL, usually in small numbers, do not
increase in nature but steadily de-
crease, and that only after they have
entered the bodies of susceptible ami
mails do they begin to multiply.
The above facts. stated by q man
who has given the subject special study
should go far to quiet the alarm that is
felt in many quarters regarding the
spreading and danger of the disease.
On the subject of preventive meas
ures, he recommends the removal of
such animals as are known to have the
disease. He regards tuberculin as the
best method for detecting it but states
that it does not discriminate between
cases that are in the advanced incipi-
ent stages; that it is not infallible:
that sometimes a sound animal gives a
reaction for tuberculosis, and that
small percentage of cows that have the
disease do not give the reaction. He
recommends the killing and burying,
or burning, of the worst cases, and the
fattening for the butcher of those who
have no outward signs Of the disease.
In absence of the tuberculin test,
or official inspection, he recommends
the destroying of all animals that show
emaciation, coughing, and suspicious
discharges from the nose, those which
have enlarged glands about the neck,
in front of the ears and behind the
lower jaw, and enlarged glands in
front of the shoulder, in the flank and
behind the udder, and all animals
which have swelling on any part of
the body, which discharge yellowish
matter and refuse to heal. He also
recommends the disinfection of the
stables with corrosive sublimate, one
ounce in eight gallons of water, or
chloride of lime, five ounces to gallon
of water, apply it with mop or a