Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-07-21
NO TUBERCULOSIS.
That is the Opinion Still Held
By Many.
Regarding the Famous Blue Hill Case
-.-Some Interesting Features.
Secretary mckcen Of ihe State Boasd Of Aurl
culture Explains Situation.

| The well known Bluehill case of al
| legged tuberculosis in COW that was
stated to have been the cause of death
| of three children, some weeks ago, still
seems to rest unsettled in the minds Of
some.
The recent report that Prof welch of
Johns Hopkins University had analyzel
parts of the animal and found that she
| mad had tuberculosis, revived the sub
ject, t,being an unexpected turn of affairs
after the testimony, including that of
DR.. Charles d. Smith of Portland, who
made a very careful examination of the
COW, that no signs of tuberculosis were
present in the subject
1t has been stated that Secretary Nc
Keen of the State Board of Agriculture,
was Interested in the matter and had
parts of the COW sent Prof. Welch at
Baltimore. He says that he has been
interested in the matter, but states that
he had nothing whatever to do with
1dN1IiS lIlt ItditS StIIl " IIOl. w tlCI,dS
he had perfect confidence in the report
made that the COW did not have tuber-
culosls which was made by DR.. Smith
and others, whose opinions We're indis-
putable.
Mr.. Mckeen says, furthermore. that
DR.. Smith has not claimed that the
specimens sent Prof Welch were not
from the COW under question, but that
they We're not the same tissues.
The following from a letter written by
DR.. Smith explains this point:
| examined the specimens from the COW
which were sent me and reported exact
ly as they were found; there was not the
slightest trace of tubercular disease in
| uddcr or lung and this conceded with
the reports of both DR. Manning and DIR
Geo. II. Bailey that there was no evil
dence of any diseased condition. | had
no bias in the matter except to believe in
the value of the tuberculn test in the
greater per cent of cases. If | were to
examine the same tissue again | should
be obliged to arrive at exactly the same
conclusion. and the experience of several
years in pathological work must be al
lowed to enable me to recognize normal
tissue. | reported upon what | had to
| tNdIfllDt 1TOl. we reported exactly
upon what he had to examine and the it's
sues given us were not the same. Any
such condition as Prof. Wech describes
would not need mcroscopical examina-
ton to indicate its presence.
a tuberculosis process which had eX
tended beyond the limits of the glands
into the surrounding tissues and the
lungs would have presented unmistak-
able appearances to any one familiar
with tubercular disease and been easily
recognized by the Ilucli1Cd iDr
Bailey and DR.. Manning are emphatic in
stating no such condition was present in
the COW at Bluehill.
In conclusion DR.. Smith writes:
| In his letter of June 18th DR.. Manning
says the disease was said to have been
| discoveries in the liifder. DIR. Bailey states
| to me that the udder had been wounded
| by wire nail; my examination CON
| firmed this by finding scar TISSUE. and ii
| is significant that Prof. Welch makes no
| reference to any examination of any I'D
der, the part first claimed to have been
| the seat of disease. There are some pc
| culiar' facts Also about the management
| of the COW. as well as the sick family
| A suspected COW is killed, the sickness
Of the family from an acute self limited
| disease is used to confirm the diagnosis
| of the COWS disease, an autopsy on ths
| COW itself is not thought of until the SEQ
retary of the board of cattle commission
| erS goes to the place some three weeks
later. Such methods do not seem to re-
| fleet much lustre upon the scientific prac-
| ticc of veterinary medicine
No discredit is of course to be cast upon
| the report of the distinguished gentlemen
| at Baltimore nor is any intended do
| insist, however. that If such tissue As he
describes had come to my hands, any re-
| port different from me would imply either
| gross stupidity or downright dishonesty
on my part. and | have no intention of
| pleading to either.
| DIR. Smith states that he has not at
| tributed i'll feeling and rivalry among the
| veterinarians as responsible for the
| misunderstanding in the case.