Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-06-12
Present Status Of Tuberculosls.

EHCSouS St8SU0 VI tOD9HSOsV8s9s
It seems that tho present standing oi
tuberculosis among cattle and the effec
of the application Of the tuberculin tes,
as now applied In veterinary practict
are not now generally clearly understood
by COW owners. It also may be truth
fully added that city boards OF health,
having oversight OF sanitary affairs In
their respective municipalities, have q
times established requirements that dt
not correspond to the authoritative
standing Of the menace 10 health they
purpose to avert. This has been shown
In the disagreement and ut times bitteI
antagonism that has arisen between city
authorities and the farmers on the mat.
ter of the milk supply Of cities.
While tuberculosis In cattle 10 still
under study BY the highest authorities
In medical science, yet on certain points
substantial agreement has been reached
and may be set down a. settled In 20 fal
as present knowledge goes. We here
call up some of these points and bespeal
careful attention to tho same by all par
ties concerned on both sides of the
problem of pure milk.
l. The tuberculin test Ia the best
known method of determining the pres
erce Of the germs of the disease in an
animal.
(a) Its application to sound animal
leaves no damaging or injurious effect
from its use. On this point farmers
need not entertain any fears.
(b) This test is not infallible. Ad.
vanced cases of the disease sometimes
fail to show reaction. Also the animal
to which application Is made must be in
q strictly normal and quiet condition OF
the test will not be reliable. Extreme
care on this particular point is necessary
to correct conclusions.
2. The test in no sense indicates
the stage of progress of the disease in
the animal to which it is applied. 1t ID
accepted, when properly applied, as
showing the presence Of the disease
germs in the animal, and nothing fur
ther. Advanced cases of the disease, al
distinguished from incipient stages, are
only indicated, If at all, by external
examination.
3. Milk from COWS shown to be
tuSerculous by the tuberculin test is nc
menace to the person taking 1t unless II
contains bacilli germs. Tuberculosis
is accepted to be without question Q
germ disease. In common language, II
may be stated that the disease cannot be
transmitted to another subject unless
the germ Tor seed) Is transmitted to thai
subject, whether animal or person.
4. No milk from COW can plant the
disease in calf or person using the mill
unless the disease germ is In the mill
used. No authority contends that the
germs of the disease are found in milh
unless the udder of the COW giving 1t ID
involved. Hence Il 10 BY no means Ger
tain that a COW shown to be tuberculoui
by the test is giving tuberculous milk
The proof OF dangerous milk Is only
shown by the presence Of the germs In
the milk.
The above are all facts on which au
thorities are In complete accord. Nc
reliable veterinarian will question THU
truth. Every Gov owner and every user
OF milk will do well to study these fact,
carefully, and when they do they vii
see there has been much uncalled foI
alarm and some action that WAS moi
prompted by sound common sense.
There Is still one other point connect.
ed with this subject that properly should
be brought up In this connection and on
which there Is not entire agreement on
the part OF Investigators. DR.. Koch
the world renowned bacteriologist AND
the discoverer Of the tuberculin test ~
now applied In practice, claims thal
bovine tuberculosis is disease distinct
from that found In the human subject
and therefore cannot Be transmitted
through the use Of milk from cattle to
mankind. In this position he has .
large number Of eminent Investigator
agreeing with him. But still there are
able investigators who do not accept DIR.
Koch's conclusions. Hence this point ID
still under further investigation, and In
due time more knowledge will have
been gained In regard to it.-Maint
Farmer.