Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1897-07-06

specimens submitted by your board for exAmin.
alton 70 determine the presence OF absence OF
tubcrculoeis. On Saturday. june l2th. received
/ from DIR. John r. Manning Of Ellswortlb speci-
mems labeled "a follows:
A. Lungs Of Bridges child deceased May
S0sh.
n. Lungs Of Bridges child deceased May
ash.
G. Portion Of uddcr Of coz owned by Bridges
said TO be tubcrculous and killed May 1sth.
D.. Portion Of lung Zone lobc) OF same COW
. condition highly favorable TO the accuracy OF
the results Of examination.
Accompanying these specimens were two
others labeled ns follows:
ously III from the same disease Of which children
died.
ly recovered from disease Of which his sisters
| All these specimens have been examined for
the presence Of tubercle bacilfi, and the report
1. Sputum OF Luther Bridges-Rcsult mega.
Q. sputum Of j. Bridges-Result negative.
| Both, however, show the presence OF large
numbers OF the micro organisms OF croupous
pneumonia, and In physical characteristics the
sputum of the father Is typical of that found In
| this disease.
3. Lung OF the COW. and scrapings from the
bronchial tubcs-Both results as TO tubcrcuie,
negative
The lung shows evidence Of old plcurisy. the
p,eurai membrane being adhcrcnt over portion
| OF the lung about three inches In diameter and
| considerably thlckened.
4. Udder OF the cow--Result negative.
Sections OF the udder show some evidence OF
old iniammatory action and Injury. traces OF
| scar tissue being apparent
s. Lungs of children. These may be consider
ed together since In all essentials the pathological
condition Il the same In each.
No tubercle barili were found, nor do sections
show the prescnse OF any Tissue , onAsgss Thc
gross appearance Of thesc lungs and the micro
scopical appearance of prepared sections show
| them 20 have been the seat OF fextensive crouPons
have considered the determination Of the true
nature OF these cases OF so much Importance tnat
have verified the finding In each specimen by
other methods of examination and the result has
been the same.
My conclusions are:
/. That the children who died, died OF Group
Gus pneumonia, and not Of tubcfrulosis.
:. That the present Illness OF Luther bridges
and hi. son Is pneumonia. and not tuberculosis
8. That no tuberculosis was present IN the
COW from which came the portions OF the lung
and uddcr which have examined.
CHAs. II. SMITH. NJ. D.,
la6 Free Street. Portland"
The previous history OF the COW shows that
her udder bad been injured quite seriously upon
n wire fence.
Thus II will be seen that another at
temp; TO terrorize the farmers OF the
state into subjeciing all OF their cows,
no matter what their condition might
be, to q e tuberculin test mt an expense
To them for the test alone OF not less
than Sl50, 900, has fallen Hat, and that
the efforts OF the alarmist are brought
To naught in the clear light OF carefully
prepared facts.
Again, it has been shown that tuber-
culln Is not infallible, in fact that 1t
may not be reliable, and that ii Ia unsafe
to depend solely upon IL 10 diagnose
tuberculosis.
10 this case we find poor family de-
prived OF their only COW, perfectly
healthy animal, the much afflicted par
ents distressed by the thought that they
had unwittingly permitted their children
To be poisoned, and the entire commu-
nity and the state thrown into fever OF
excitement and alarm by this one mis-
take.
IL may, perhaps. be said that Il was
not properly applied, or that the tenn
peratures were not correctly taken,
but DR.. West Is regular veterinary
Of considerable experience. and Is one OF
Veterinary Medical Association: and the
average farmer may well ask, II he can
not properly apply IL, who cans
We trust that the facts which this In
vestigation has brought out may he as
fully circulated as were the earlier
delicious stories concerning the case,
and that the minds Of all may be set at
rest.
The dairy business Of Maine is one OF
the most important industries OF the
state. 4 large number OF people are
directly dependent upon II, and 1t brings
more money into our farm homes than
any other branch OF farming: therefore
any effort TO bring distrust upon the
healthfulness OF its products or to sub
iect those who are engaged In the busi-
ness 10 unnecessary expense or incon-
venience should be looked upon "a q
blow at the welfare and prosperity OF the
state and discouutenanced by all OF her
citizens.
Il. WALKER MCKEEN,
Secretary Maine Board Of Agricult-
ure.
Augusta, June 81, 1897.