The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1897-04-27
WEEKLY DIGEST
Of Experiment Station Bulletins.

CULOsIS.
Bulletin 118, of New Jersey Station
takes a hopeful view of the futUre COM
bat against tuberculosis, or consump-
ton, in both man and beast. Health
and mortality statistics of the world
show this to be by far the greatest
plague that has ever attacked the race,
and il is the only one to which all OF
mans subordinate animals W1thouE ex-
ception, are liable. ANY animal oman
included) may catch the disease from
any other other, even OF diHerent
species. After man, cattle are attacked
by it in greater numbers than any
other animal, probably because con
ditions are more favorable for the COM
m~unication of the disease from mixers
TO COWS than is the case with other ami
mails.
Scientific Investigators are seeking a
remedy for this the greatest Of all
scourges, with much promise of sue
cess. Sufficient knowledge has already
been obtained as to the cause and de-
velopments of the disease to enable us
to ascertain its presence with absolute
certainty, and to suppress it and pre-
vent it. If the presence Of the disease
is suspected, an injection of tuberculin
(Koch's lymph will determine the
matter definitely. Separating the sick
from the well and the use of disinfect-
ants end other precautions will finally
suppress it and will prevent it's recur
renee. A cure has not yet been found,
but prevention is better than cure for
all except those which have already
been attacked.
Owing to the general prevalence and
slow development of this disease, we
do not show the same dread of it that
we do Of violent maIadies like cholera,
yellow fever, and smallpox, and herein
lies the danger. II the same are we're
taken TO avoid contact with consump-
ton that is exercised against many
other diseases, consumption would dis
appear within a generation. And yet,
consumption kills nor people and
more domestic animals than all of these
violent epidemics put together. Enough
people die OF consumption in New York
City each year TO make q city OF 6 1000
inhabitants. Enough die OF this dread
disease in New Jersey each year to
make a city of so, 1000.
Statistics Of the extent Of the disease
among cattle show that in Germany z
$780,. 10O an rH-oFoT. IN E1DIond
ID Of every 100; in France, 1 il every
300; IA Mexico, 81 in every 100. In
this country, statistics are incomplete
but 10 1890. 90 veterinary surgeons in
II States reported 10 in every 100 The
government meat inspectors al Balti
more, to inspect the dressed meat sent
abroad from that port, fad tuberculosis
in 8 Of every ZOE carcasses inspected.
OF course such meat is condemned.
Tuberculosis, or consumption, is
characterized by the growth OF Jumps
called tu6ercles (Which means little
tubere9 in various parts Of the body.
These are generally round and vary
from the size of small shot to that Of a
large plum, the average being about
the sjzs Of a grape. They are either on
the surface Of the affected organ, or
imbedded in it, usually in clusters,
such clusters some times reaching the
size Of a mans head. When the small
tubercles are scattered about, it is
called military" tn oerculosis. Tuber-
culoses OF the skin is called Lupus; -
of the intesEines, ''Tabes Mesenterica ~
of the glands of the groin or neck,
'ScEofula; ;" OF the spinal cord or brain,
meningitis; )" while tuberculosis OF the
lungs Is called ''Pnthisis," or ''pulmon.
ary consumption"
Many cases OF insanity are caused by
tubercles on the brain. Many cases of
-sterIlity or barrenness are caused by
~tubercIes OF the internal sexual organs,
and many classes of liver complaint
are caused by tubercles in that organ.
Calls, warts, and knots on the leaves,
branches, and roots of plants, are
tubercles caused by parasites, just as
tuberculosis is caused in various parts
of the animal body. The parasite which
causes the tubercles of consumption
we're 6rst discovered by Koch in 1881,
by washing tubercles with a strong
aniline dye, which colored the little
germs red and made them plainly Wis
i0le through his powerful microscope.
They appear as minute red rods, irreg.
uiarly bent, and slowly multiplied by
separation, each one, when fully grown,
breaking in two, forming two germs
which o get their growth and agaio