The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-16
TO THE BITTER END.
Secretary McKeen's Advice to Cumberland
County Farmers.
To the Editor Of the Press:

To the Editor of the Press:
Noting the controversy which is now
on in relation to the compulsory use of
the tuberculin test among the herds of
cows which are furnishing milk for your
city, and believing that you fully desire
to present both sides of the case, will
briefly outline the position of the Board
of Agriculture in relation to it, and give
you some of our reasons for our opinions.
At the outset will say that we are
firmly convinced that while tuberculin
has value as diagnostic agent, its use
should be confined wholly to suspicious
cases, whe-95 skilled veterinary fails to
discover the disease by physical examina-
ton but is still in doubt as to the possible
condition of the animal.
I will first cite various authorities in
relation to the reliability of the test, its
possible effect upon apparently well ami
mails, and upon people who may use the
milk from newly tested cows. DR.. ".
FL. Way, veterinary of North Cam
bridge, Mass, who is well known by
many of our cattle men, is quoted as say
ing he had no faith at all in the sound
ness of the tuberculin test. He thought
that in many cases COWS would recover
even after the test had shown tuberculo-
SIS He had no fear Of the meat of a tu-
berculous COW unless she was far gone
with the disease, for the disease affected
the parts that were thrown away and did
not affect the muscles of the meat He
did not fear milk from COW when ex-
animation could not show disease in the
milk.
DR.. John M. Parker, Secretary of the
Massachusetts, Cattle Commission, writes
me as follows: '4In regard to the ques-
tion you ask as to the danger of contract
ing tuberculosis from drinking milk, 1
would say that all the evidence we can
procure seems to point to milk as a
serious source of danger. I think while
it is not practicable to examine all the
herds in the state with tuberculin, that
a careful physical examination is suff1-
Gent to protect public health, as it is
only in such animals as are far advanced
in disease or where the udder is affected
that there is much danger. 1t is curl
GUS fact that in majority of cases where
the reaction is high and well marked only
slight tubercular LESSONS are found, while
in such cases as are well advanced there
is frequently no al parently characteristic
reaction from tu.erculin, and the ex-
aminer has to depend upon a physical ex-
animation alone to detect the disease. I
believe that if a careful physical exami-
nation is made in every herd of the state
and if all the cows in an advanced condi-
tion of disease, or with any affection of
the udder, are condemned, the safety of
the general public is practically assured. !"
Now of course all will admit that the
public has no right to interfere with the
herds of any man in any way except as
necessity to conserve the public health.
Therefore testimony of this kind, coming
as it does from a state where they at
tempted to carry out the law in most
radical manner and signally failed, l be-
leve is entitled to great deal of weight.
DR.. Samuel G. Dixon, of the Academy
of Natural Science of Philadelphia, Penn,
says regarding the general compulsory
use of tuberculin, 81 can answer en-
phatically that / believe-in fact I know
it would be a grave mistake. While
tubercuIin is certainly useful for diagnos-
tic purposes, it is at the same time
powerful poison that is surrounded by
possible dangers. In my laboratory ex-
periments have produced immunity in
the lower animals by the use of dead
tubercle bacilli, plus the indus or medium
in which they were grown, which repre-
the least, predisposition to the disease,
by the use of larger doses of the same
material. Again, I have fully satisfied
myself that a latent or very slow chronic
localized condition of consumption can be
excited by the use of tuberculin into an
active, acute tuberculosis, and occasion
ally without causing any rise of tempera-
ture at the time of the test. 1t is there
fore my opinion that it should, with our
present knowledge of it's power for good
or bad, only be used to diagnose in case
where the doctor is suspicious and yet in
doubt of the presence Of tuberculosis.
W. L. Zuill, formerly chairman of the
veterinary faculty of the University of
Pennsylvania, says: "Tuberculin will
OF react in every case of tubercular dis
ease but will react where no tuberculosis
exists and therefore is not reliable. 1t is
positively dangerous as it may arouse a
latent or encysted tubercle into activity
and thus cause an aggravated tuberculosis
that will render milk unfit for food and
hasten the cows DEATH whereas without
tuberculin such COW might enjoy health
and yield perfectly harmless milk. can
not, do not, and will not endorse the in
discriminate use of tuberculin as an agent
IOr diagnosing TUBERCULOSIS IN DAIRY cat
tle."
Mr.. Fl. D. Davenport of Mendon, Mass,
writes me that he lost $3.50 on one car of
COWS from its use, that in that lot which
were tested and pronounced all right one
of them inside of six months died with
tuberculosis and two more had the disease
and that eight good healthy COWS aborted
and were sick for long time He also
saysEthat in every car there is more or less
abortion and sickness and that he lays it
all to tuberculin, as he never was troubled
before it was used; that calves that are
born alive are weak and do not amount
to much, and frequently die within few
days with scours.
Mr.. John L. Bowker of Worcester,
Mass, Secretary of the New England
Milk Producers Union, says in letter
under recent date that, judging from
the effects which he has seen and of which
be has good evidence, within five years
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