The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-23
AGRICULTURAL.
Reports on the Use OF Tuberculin.

In view OF the erroneous impression
some people seem to have, and others
seek to convey, As 10 the effects of the
agent called tuberculiu, used for de-
tecting the existence of lubercu osis
in ca 10, has upon the animals, the
subjoia d information on this point is
published:
From report Connecticut Cattle Commission
ers, 1896 1T is perhaps, not necessary at this
late day to state that all evidence goes to
show that there is no harm done to a healthy
animal by submitting it to the tuberculin test.
1t is the unanimous verdict of your commits
sion based upon our constant experience, that
an instance where unfavorable symptoms have
developed in well animal from the use of
tuberculin is unknown to us. Moreover we
have standing requests with all those for whom
we have made examinations, TO inform
should any such instance occur in any herd we
have tested, but we have never received such
notification
From Experiment Station, Cornell Univer-
sity, N Y: So far as there is evidence be.
fore us, everything points to the harmlessness
of single test dose on a sound animal SYSTEM"
says in discussing, the probable danger from
the use of tuberculin: 1.-THE experience of the
State Agricultural Experiment Station herd is
also against this theory. because its members
each time being injected in practically the
same spot and not the slightest evil result has
manifested itself, although the period of OBJ
servation now extends over two and one-half
years.
From DR.. NJ. Stalker, State veterinarian of
Iowa: Injections of tuberculin cannot pro-
duce tuberculosis, nor are the results harmful"
The European Veterinary Congress in refer
ring to tubercuin says: There is no reason
for Directing to its general application on the
ground that IL nppTaVutp nrp-pNigtinp IL
berculous LESSONS. There need be no fear that
tuberculin, properly used, will cause generali-
cation of pre-. existing disease"
From the International Congress of Hygiene,
held at Budapest The committee are agreed
that tuberculin is a very valuable assistant in
the discovery of tuberculosis. The occasional
failures in diagnosis for which it is responsible
are without practical significance"
II n, Avery, Nj d., in report to city council
of Minneapolis, says of tuberculin: When
injected into healthy animal no reaction
ours and no effect is produced ON the health of
the animal either Immediately or subsequent
ly.'
From the Association of New England Cattle
Commissioners: "As body we heartily en-
dorse and recommend the use of tuberculin as
being the only reliable agent now known for
the detention OF tuberculosis i'll cattle. We
also further believe that no harm whatever
comes from its use in animals that are free
from tn erculosis.'
The following is an extract from a letter
from DR.. ID. K. Salmon, chief of the Bureau of
Animal Industry at Washington, ID. c.. Re
ports received of over 10000 healthy cattle
that have been injected with the bureau tuber-
culin fail to indicate that in any instance the
use of tuberculin caused the slightest trouble
IN these animals. 49,. With reference to
the amount of tuberculin necessary to kill a
compared with the amount necessary to
kill guinea pig one pound in weight, the
quantity is enormous. Based on our expert
ence with guinea pigs, it would be necessary
that COW 700 pounds in weight should receive
at one injection four and one-half gallons of
tuberculin while COW of 600 pounds weight
would require six and one-haf gallons of tuber-
culin. 1t is, therefore, absurd to suppose that
the quantity of tuberculin which is ordinarily
used to test the condition of COW should cause
any injury. The injections of tuberculin could
never give rise to tuberculosis if the tuberculin
is properly prepared, and in of poisoning
by the large amount indicated the death would
be due to acute intoXication
Between November, 1894, and February,
1896 a COW at station has received iniec-
tons OF tuberculin amounting altogether to
2S52 &C. Her condition at present is better
than it has been at any time since she arrived
at the station. In May, 1895, two COWS receiv-
ed injections of 100 &C. each of tuberculn, the
same as we send out for injecting cattle. Both
COWS were three to four months advanced in
pregnancy at the time. Neither appeared to
suffer a result of the injection both produce
ed good calves, and both COWS are, at the pres
Although no experiments are recorded of
work done abroad in which such large quaint
ties of tuberculin have been injected into the
animals, the reports of cases where tuberculm
has been used for dagnostic purposes have in
dictated that this test is satisfactory, and no
comments as to injurious effects from the use
of tuberculin upon healthy animals have been
made.
Among others DR.. Bang of Denmark, an
enthusiastic supporter of the use of tuberculin,
reports the testing of over 5000 animals, but
does not mention or refer to any possible inju-
rious effects from the use of tuberculin
These facts serve to show conclusvely that
tuberculm, in quantity used for diagnostic
purposes is perfectly harmless
a volume OF similar testimony TO the
harmlessness Of iuberculin in The case
of a healthy animal could be furnished.
There is no adequate rebutting evil
dence. The bare declaration. of preiu-
diced or uninformed men, however en-
phatically made, that tuberculin, prop
erly prepared, causes tuberculosis in
healthy animals, or aggravates it in
those affected by the disease, can have
no weight with intelligent and reason
able people as against the testimony
of men who have studied the subject
thoroughly and sustain their word by
the results of practical and long con.
tinuod eXpe iments