Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-05-24
TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.
Neenah Dairyman Disputes State Vet
erinarian's Statement.

Oshkosh Northwestern commun-
ication on tuberculosis in cattle written
by l.. E. Scott, well-known dairyman
of Neenah, scouts the idea that the dis
ease is very prevalent in Wisconsin,
Mr.. Scott says: 1T is the easiest thing
In the world to sit down in ones Office
and enlarge upon the report Of some
theorist and work the public into a
frenzy thereby. But will the facts bear
us out? That is the point. Did You
ever known a COW to die of tuberculo-
sis or consumption? Did you ever see
case of it among cattle? DO you be-
lieve there is case of il in Winnebago
county? The writer has lived in this
county for over forty years. has had
experience with cattle from boyhood up
and has yet to see his first case. And
yet Saturday evenings Northwestern
quotes the state veterinarian, claiming
that per cent. of the cattle of the state
are affected.
Upon what is the astounding claim OF
our state veterinarian based? Has he
of the cattle of Wisconsin? No; but
he has used the so-called tuberculin
test and finds that of those tests per
cent. respond and what is this tuber-
culin test? Simply the injection of a
prepared serum called tuberculin. into
the veins of the COW, and If her temper
ature rises the degrees, she is said to
have the tuberculosis and is condemned
to die, no matter how healthy she may
otherwise appear to be. She may be in
may have bright eye and healthful
and thrifty oppression; her hair may
show lively gloss, but no matter. IL
your temperature rises two degrees, my
pet Jersey, Prof. Koch says that you
have the tuberculosis. You may plead
in vain that my children have grown
and thrived upon your milk. That
counts for naught. You have got to go
or your owner will not be following the
fad of the times. Is the tubercuin
test reliable? To a layman 1t would
seem improbable, but his opinion would
count but little as against the veter-
marian. But what are the facts?
"A Mr.. Thompson, a veteran dairy
man Of Huntley, H., told me a few
weeks ago that twenty-one head of his
cattle were condemned and that he
went to Chicago to see them slaught-
cred. That in the majority OF cases
nothing whatever was found. That in
one instance the animal had reacted so
sharply that the examiners proposed
going over the carcass a second time.
finding nothing upon first inspection,
when to their great satisfaction they
found blemish in the flank about half
the size of hickorynut. evidently
bruise and almost healed up; but, no
matter, the tuebrculn test had been
indicated, and the slaughtering of the
animal and the loss to the owner above
the pittance paid by the state was OF no
account. But the worst feature was
by the owner, and the one which prob
ably gave the herd bad reputation.
did not react the two degrees. and so
passed muster. But the owner had de-
cided to kill this animal regardless of
the test, and found upon examination
that 1t was in very bad condition.
"Of course, we should heed we'll what
our professional men say; and especial
ly our state veterinarian. appointed as
he is by the state to perform very many
important duties, but the veterinarian
OF the state OF New York ought also to
be good authority, and he advised the
legislature OF that state to discontinue
the policy OF condemning COWS by the
tuberculin test and they after the com
mittee had examined a cloud OF wit
nesses, acted upon his suggestion. The
question OF public health and santa
ton Is one OF all Importance. but sin
cerely believe that the estimates OF tu-
berculous cattle are greatly exagger-
ated, and that there is no occasion for
the scare that has been worked up In
a.