The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-06-30

was uedu anu cdlclneu, une ulSeuSe
would have gone on extending, and
in the end one of the other six of the
tuberculous cows which did not react
would become a center of infection TO
healthy cattle if in barn with them.
l wish to impress on you that in
cattle it is not the sputum, but the
manure which is and must be consid-
cred the dangerous factor in tubercu-
lous cattle, and by which the disease
is spread in stables. This fact is
again of vastly more Importance than
the milk or flesh if the dangers of
tuberculosis are as claimed by many.
On the contrary, cowherders and
dairy maids are no more susceptible
to tuberculosis than any other people.
The American Indian is remarkably
susceptible to tuberculosis upon do
mestication, and he is not milk con-
sumer
| Again, do not forget that not one
case of tuberculosis in man can be
attributed to that of cattle with that
critical eXactness which can only be
possible cause has been excluded, the
verdict of the COW must still be that
of the Scotch jury, Not proven" The
state cannot afford to make such alb
solutely and mandatory laws upon
such evidence and such a verdict, and
yet that is what has been done.
Of the 100 cattle first examined,
considering the question of tubercu
losis alone and assuming all other
conditions as marketable, every COW
but tag No. 969S, would be considered
as suitable for consumption in Europe
and probably that one, as second class
meat. The majority of that 1870 and
all of the second lot, the 20 non-react-
ing COWS would have been passed as
No. beef in any market in Europe.
Not one of the seven cattle found
tubcrculous among the 20 non-react-
ing, could be considered as an immc,
date source of danger to man or cat
tie in their condition at the time of
examination. OF the $50 cows exam
ined 1874 were found tuberculous, or
about 90 per cent. This indicates that
about about rs per cent of the bovine
milking machines, tied to a chain six
months, sometimes ~ in a year, and
forced for all they are worth, and for
| nj thara &c IN 10 Al. 4
mand of our cities, must be tubercu-
| lous.
The war cry that bovine tuberculo-
sis is the chief or even an essential
cause of human tuberculosis is, mo
bacillus, no tuberculosis. That is one
of the dangerous half truths which
are sometimes more misleading than
serious errors. The whole truth is, no
constitutional predisposition, or pre-
disposing weaknesses, no enervating
manner of life, proper ventilation and
health exercise, no tuberculosis, let
the bacilli be present or not.
most important lesson to be de-
rived from the seven tuberculous
cows which did not react is me
practical impossibility of relying upon
the tuberculin test, even when COM
bined with physical examination in
the purchase of cows that they will
be free from the disease. The ma
jority of those seven cattle, while
none of them were dangerous at the
time of slaughter, would eventually
develop general tuberculosis, and if
only one such be present, become the
center of infection for an otherwise
free stable of cows, so far as tubef-
culosis is concerned.
The chief work of the state is and
should be to place the sanitary care
of all cow stables in the control of
the cattle commissioners, and to have
a quarterly inspection of the cows by
competent district veterinarians, and
the stables kept up to a certain de-
gree of cleanliness. All animals sus-
picious on physical examination might
or should be tested according to COM
mon sense law The method of quar-
antine as l have seen it practised is
practically valueless, save in prevent
ing the sale of the animals. Suspect
ed, or tested, animals, have been left
in the same stables with other cows,
taken care of by the same man AMI
the manure tracked all over the stable
and premises as of old.
While not absolute as test, as
shown, still tuberculin is a valuable
test, most especially to the breeder
of fancy stock, and even the farmer
should not neglect it, if there is any
possibility of raising his calves, or
selling them to be raised. All react