Hutchinson gazette., 1901-08-01
TubercuIin Not Harmful.

A press bulletin OF the Ohio Expert
ment station says:
AS announced last fall, the Ohio
Experiment station is prepared TO ap-
ply the tuberculln test to cattle sus-
pected of being affected with tubercu-
losis; the test being made without cost
to the owner OF the cattle, except the
board Of the stations agent during
the two days required TO make tho
test and his transportation to and
from the nearest railway station,
Under this offer the station has thus
far tested thirteen herds, containing
279 cattle, with the result that six
herds were found to be entirely free
from tuberculosis, while In the re-
naming herds there were eighteen
cases of positive reaction to the tuber-
culin test, Five Of these eighteen cat
tie were Immediately killed by their
owners and examined by the state
veterinarian, the results Of the autopsy
confirming the accuracy OF the tuber-
culln diagnosis in every instance, In
other cases the owners have been ad-
vised to fatten the animals In the hope
that the disease would prove not to
have become sufficiently generalized to
affect the meat.
1t will be observed that nearly half
the herds examined proved to be en-
tirely free from disease, One Of these
herds belonged to a children's home,
and Others were dairy herds In which
occasional coughing or other tempor-
airy indisposltion had caused some
anxiety, In four other cases, only one
or two animals were found affected,
and the owners were enabled by the
test to at once separate such animals
from the herd, disinfect their stalls
and probably prevent further spread
Of the disease.
No doubt many persons hesitate to
subject their herds to this test for fear
Of exciting public suspicion; but 1t Is
no part Of the stations duty or inten-
tlon to advertise the presence Of this
disease in any particular herd.
Others are probably deferred through
fear Of the test itself producing an in
furious effect on the tested cattle; but
on this point the evidence is conclusive
that no such effect follows this test,
AT the Ohio station eight cattle were
subjected to the tuberculin test during
the period from June, 1897, to April,
1899, the tests being repeated at inter
walls of month during the latter part
Of this period. These cattle had all
reacted to the tuberculin test at the
beginning Of the experiment but as 1t
progressed the reactions became more
and more irregular and finally ceased
altogether, Notwithstanding a consid-
cradle increase in the dose Of tuber-
culin. Some Of these cattle were un-
der three years old, others were cows
and a bull Of various ages, The young
cattle kept fat and grew rapidly, the
older ones constantly increased In
weight, and when slaughtered the evil
dence presented indicated that II the
tuberculln injections had had any eff
feet upon the health Of the animals 1t
had been beneficial rather than other
wise. All the cattle at this station are
now tested regularly every six months,
and animals which have been subjected
to these tests for four years are still
in the best of health. Altogether, this
station has made many hundreds Of tu-
berculln Injections with never suspi-
clon OF any injurious effect. On the
other hand, we have abundant epcour-
agement to believe that we are build
ing up herd Of healthy cattle, large
proportion Of which are the offspring
Of tuberculous parents
AT the Maine station ten cattle re-
ceived tuberciilln injections at inter-
walls Of few days to few months
from 1895 to 1897, as many as twenty
four injections being given In some
cases. The results were similar to
those reached at the Ohio station.
At the New Jersey station herd OF
tuberculous cattle was kept under OBJ
servatlon for six years, the animals
receiving from eight to nineteen In
jectlons each during that period, but
no evidence was found to justify the
assertion that the general health, even
Of non-tuberculous cattle, had been
affected, either for better or for worse
by the treatment.
Prof. H. w. Conn Of the Storrs Ex-
pertinent station Of Connecticut spent
a year In Europe, making special
study Of cattle tuberculosis and the
tuberculin test. He reports that those
who have had the largest experience
In tha uoa NJ thie tact eaV thnt fhapa
Is absolutely no reason for believing
that 1t is followed by any injurious re-
suits.
The stations object in Offering its
services In this work is to assist farm
ers, breeders and dalrymen In freeing
their herds from disease which, II
permitted to continue unchecked, will
inevitably cause great financial loss,
as well as endanger the lives Of those
who may consume the milk produced.