The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-06
BOVINE TUBER CULOsIs.
Transmission of the Germs In MILK
and Otherwise.


From the New York Evening Post.
Details of an interesting experiment TO
determine to what extent tuberculosis is
transmissible through the use OF milk are
given in the annual report of the Con-
necticut Agricultural Experiment Station
at Storris. Four condemned cows which
had responded to the tuberculin test and
had shown other evidences of tuberculo-
sis were placed at the disposal of the sta
ton Milk from these animals was fed TO
eight calves, three of the young being the
progeny of the afflicted cows, for periods
varying from three to sixteen months,
and not one of these calves developed
tuberculosis during the test. Nearly six
months after the feeding period with milk
was ended, one of the eight animals re-
sponded to the test. A post-mortem ex-
animation showed a few tubercles in one
of the pharyngeal glands Of the throat.
Had the disease been produced by the
milk it is believed than it would have APP
peared first in the digestive tract. The
conclusion reached by the experimenters
is that the danger from the spread of
tuberculosis through the milk of COWS to
man or to other animals is not as great
as has, generally been supposed"
In this same Connecticut report is an in
structive article by Prof. II. w. Conn of
Wesleyan University on the general sub
ject of bovine tuberculosis. The paper
was written after a visit to many of the
chief centers in Europe, where the matter
has been subject of special investiga-
ton. Much of the article is devoted to a
discussion of the possibility of the trans
ference of tuberculosis from animal to
man and from man to animals. Although
there appears to be no difference in the
bacillus found in man or in cattle
when it is examined with the microscope,
no pnSftiypiu
says, that the bacillus is identical Re
cent experiments show that, although
there may be but one species of tubercle
bacillus, there are number Of varieties
more or less distinct and of different
virulence. This gives the question new
aspect, and raises in Prof. Conn's mind
the query whether the type which pro-
duces a violent case of tuberculosis
among animals might be one which
would have very little effect upon
man. The Professor has no doubt that
the disease may be congental among
animals is from parent to progeny, al
though evidence of such occurrences is
rare. He regards it as possible also, that
the disease may be carried from man TO
animal, but as tuberculosis among man
kind has been known for many centuries
and as il is apparently comparatively
new among animals. IL is evident that the
transference from man to animals is not
lHe common HtlHO1.
On the more important point of the
transmission of tuberculosis from animal
TO man, Prof. Conn says that the actual
danger of transmission by flesh is slight.
1t is only under very exceptional circum-
stances that the disease is found in the
part of the animal which is consumed for
food and in these rare cases the tubercle
is destroyed by cooking. There is greater
danger from the use of milk, but even
that danger lis so 81 ght that 1t does not
deserve anything Hike the amount OF at
tention that has been given it," Many
reasons are advanced for this belief
which is general among scientists. Milk
becomes contaminated only in the case
of advanced tuberculosis, or in the case
Of localized udder disease. Gases of udder
tuberculosis are rare. and cows in an adj
vanced stage of the disease are generally
excluded from the producing herd.
Statistics also support this position
While the use Of dairy products has
rapidly increased. and while tuberculosis
is increasing among cattle. there is a
very decided decrease of that disease
among men. Moreover. this decrease is
as great in England as in the United
States, where milk is generally consumed
without sterilization, as 1t is In continent
tai Europe, where the milk is practically
always sterilized.