Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1906-11-09

MIR. EDITOR,
Sir:-Many times in the last
two months have | been invited bJ my
patrons for a public expression OF my
views relative to the use Of tubercuiin
or tuberculosis animals not alone as
diagnostic agent, but its general action
on the system Of the animal and It's In
f.llibility. Great difficulty was ex-
n,rjenced by the veterin rians IN de-
citing tuberculosis in cattle up 10 tne
time tuberculin was introduced by
Koch. Instead of tuberculin proving
a snecific for tuberculosis as was origi-
nally intended by the great scientist,
it proved a diagnostic agent only py
rise in temperature when used hypoder-
micaIly on tuberculosis animals. Re-
cent circulars by scientific authority
from the bureau of animal industry al
Washington, say that tubercuiih ~ NOT
Isolutely infallible as diagnos'ic
a ,ert There are thousands OF cows
not far advanced in the disease, ana
through the intervention OF healthy
. rroundings, sunshine, and feed adj
ministered from hygenic standpoint,
the disease had become arrested, ana
a no way was determined to the sys-
tenn of the animal, but by the spphca-
tion of tuberculn stimulated to new
life and growth, the tuberele bacillus,
thereby developing the d sease ana rem
deripp the animal unfit for use TO any
one except the young veterinarian
hubblinr over with scientific theory
and destitute of COW sense
That able veterinary edition OF the
Stockman has told you through us
veterinary columns that it is an erron-
eous idea which prevails among city
D ,ople that cows which have been tub
erculin tested are safe cows to use the
milk from In fact in many cases the
inject on Of tuberculin puts that COW
which was in a safe condition to pro-
duce milk in a condition in which she
Is unsafe, allowing that tuberculosis
n sease can be transmitted to man
through milk. Now | have asserted
I'd must prove my assertion. All un-
h ased scientific investigation in coun-
tries OF the old world and on this con-
nent agree that it is the exciting and
aggravation OF the latent tuberculosis
baciIli which may be in a COW that
creates rise of temperature after the
tubercuIin has been injected. There IS
also general rule in vogue that when
a cow does not show rise OF terlpera-
ture of two degrees she shall not De
Condemned. Now to the point; A herd
is inspected by the use Ut tubercuiin.
Some show no rise, others show Use
of one degree, others one and one nan
or three fourths. If tuberculin Is to be
relied rpon we have got to say THESE
COWS have some tubercles in their
bodies, yet the temperature is not SUI
ficient to order them killed or condemn
them rs being unsafe animals. But
what security have we that the tubsr-
culin we injected will not in few
weeks have so acted upon the rev
harmless tubercles as to make tnem
active, and thus cow that is pro-
nounced sound teday may be diseased
animal six weeks later. These are
facts that city health boards should
take into consideration.
1t ia an erroneous idea that tub
erculin tested cows are immune cows
from tuberculous di.ease. They are
not. in fact under the conditions nam
ed they may be more likely to develop
it. In this connection will say every
herd supplying milk to the city OF Mar
tinsburg was during the past summer
examined for tuberculosis and a certi-
ficate Of good health given, and in no
case was the test applied or anything
more than a casual look given.
Respectfully,
DR.. w. +. Lanaford.