The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-02-13

tains an answer to the questions pro.
pounded:
There are number of diseases that
are transmissible from animal to man,
and strange to say, they are almost all
of a malignant nature.
Some such diseases are, CHAMBERS in the
horse, rabies in the dog, malignant car
buncle in cattle, bovine variola (cOw
pox) ito which we are indebted for vac
cination); and tuberculosis Consumption
in cattle.
Now, during the last few years, it has
become more generally accepted that tu-
berculosis is transmissible to man from
cattle, consequently much has been writ
ten in journals, and papers, on the sub
ject, and great amount of interest
manifested by the public, and in several
States great deal of good, and posi-
bly, some HARM has been accomplished
by legislation.
1t will perhaps appear to some, who
have followed the matter closely, re-
markable fact that there is, and has
been, such diversity of opinion among
writers, and investigators on the subject.
Like most questions of the kind it has
fallen the victim to eXekemists.
On the one hand, we read an article,
written too by one whose opinion IS
worthy of respect, that there is hardly
any tuberculosis in cattle and the same
writer ridicues the idea that the dis
ease is transmiSsible from cattle to the
human being; ON the other hand, anoth-
err writer. whose opinion is of as much
weight as that of the former writer,
tells us that a large proportion of all
cattle are tuberculous, and that we hui
man beings exist, to a large extent on
n diet of tubercle bacilli, served TO us
in milk, and poorly cooked beef. Now.
it is probable that each writer Is thor
oughly sincere in his statements, and
they may even have been the result Of
actual observation. hut If such observa-
tons had been carried further, or in
other fields, each would have magnified
his statements perhaps, and struck
happy medium in his views, and express
sions on the subject. When | was en-
gagged in the active practice of Veterin-
airy Medicine l had ample opportunity
of observing just how such diversity Of
opinion is likely to occur.
/ investigated Worcester, and Somer-
set counties for tuberculosis in cattle
for the State of Maryland, and although
/ made the most careful examina ton
that l could, with the means at my dis
posal. | did not find a single case of
tuberculosis among the cattle, or at
least not one that I could diagnose as
such. But again, was called to ex-
anime a large herd in Virginia a few
years ago, and found that the head of
the herd, and a large proportion of the
cows were tuberculous. | think there
is no doubt that the disease is much
more prevalent in herds in which there
has been much in-and-in breeding, such
breeding weakening the constitution OF
the cattle, and rendering them less able
TO resist the disease germs.
Poor, scrub cattle are not as ha-
BILE to have the disease asthe more
highly bred ones because they are
brought up to rough it." and are ex-
posed to the hardships of life" from the
beginning Of their existence.
As to the question of "heredity," / do
not believe that calves are born with
tuberculosis, but | do believe that they
inherit a weakened constitution, and
when born are in a condition to hypo-
nutrition so that they are unable TO re-
sist the inroads upon their systems made
by the tubercle bacilli, and as it is case
OF 1.-The survival of the fittest," they soon
become victims of the disease.
The most important. and at the same
time. the most difficult question, to an
swer, is, Is the. disease transmissible
to the human being from cattle if so,
by what means?
Psychologists have proved beyond a
doubt that the meat Of cattle that have
died Of tuberculosis is certainly a hab-
itat for tubercle. and also that a large
quantity of milk sold in large cities,
and elsewhere, also contained the bacil-
Ii in large quantities. The amount Of
disease propagated in this manner, it is
impossible to ascertain, but it is gener-
ally believed by the medical profession
to-day that tuberculosis can undoubtedly
be contracted by consuming these arti-
cles of food, especially in an uncooked
condition.
Thoroughly cooked beef, or boiled
milk is probably devoid of the cause of
danger.
OF course, everyone who eats poorly
cooked beef, or, unboiled milk which is
known TO be tuberculous, is not going
to fall victim TO the disease, but any
one, especially one with weakened,
debilitated constitution would fare bet
ter OH food which did not contain tuber-
Gle bacilli.
NOW the question as 10 now TO prevent
the spread of tuberculosis i'll cattle,
and so keep tuberculous meat, and milk
from being marketed for human food has
engaged the attention of health-officers
and all those who have the welfare, and
health of the general public at heart, for
a long time, and the legislatures of sew
eral States have enacted laws with a
view to exterminating the disease, and
preventing the sale of meat, or, milk,
which is known to be tuberculOus.
A State veterinary surgeon who is
competent to do such work attends 10
exterminating the disease, and public
health officer, who must also be a bac-
teriologist, examines the meat, and milk,
ana prevents the sale Of that which is
in his opinion unfit for food.
In those States that have State
Veterinarian, anyone having suspicious
cases among his cattle or anyone who
knows of such cattle, reports them TO
him, and he makes an examination. IL
he finds the cattle are tuberculous he
orders the animals destroyed, and the
State (sometimes) pays the owner Il