New-York tribune., 1907-05-28
| MILK PURE AT FIRST.
GERMS FALL INTO PAIL.
Government Investigation Into
Tubercul0us Cattle.
IntO

Recent experiments on live animals to determine
the origin of tuberce baciln in milk have demon
strated to the satisfaction of the persons engaged
in this research work that milk is infected with
these germs from the exterior of the cow
DR. E. c. Schroeder and w. E. Cotton. supern-
tendent and expert assistant respectively, at the
experiment station of the Department of Agr1cult-
rre in an official report say that guinea pigs in
oculated with milk from tuberculous COWS with
unaffected udders developed tuberculosis not from
tubercle bacili that drawn from the milk, but
tubercle bacil that dropped Into 1t or into the
milk pail from the exterior of the cow despite all
precautions.
Copies of DR.. Schroeders report have been sent
TO all the health departments throughout the
United States and foreign countries. Commissioner
Darlington and the officials of the Health Depart
ment who have been advocating greater milk pre-
cautions said yesterday that the problem had prac-
tcally been solved and every effort would be
made to enforce proper sanitary conditions In tho
barnyards and stables Of milk dealers. The report,
in part, is follows
Tubercle bacilH are disseminated with the feces
of tuberculous cattle This is shown to be the case
by microscopic examinations by inoculation tests
with hogs Feces are the most dangerous factor
In the dissemination OF tubercle bacilli by cattle
must be regarded having place with cattle
similar to that commonly accorded to sputa with
It is not alone the feces of vlsbly affected catn.
IS dangerous to man and animals, but also the
feces Of cattle slightly affected that the dag
on the application Of the tqberculln test Tubercle
throG6 1y the dseve 4
and out with the feces without loss of infectious
matter that is cougRed CHE up from their lungs is
swallowed. passed through their bodies and scat
Bacilli may reach the environment of tubercoIous
rare occurrence compared with the dissemination
through feces especially when the cattle are not
berculous cattle was found to be free from infec-
tuberculosis that this freedom in her case seems to
Indicate that nasal discharge rarely contains tu-
MIX from tuberculous with unaffected
%ndders % we believe to be free from Infection untI
material that contains tuborcle baciIn from tho
that is to say. it is not believed that tubercle
bacilh are eliminated with milk from tuberculous
connected with 1t present: This conclusion is
drawn from the present series of investigations
the milk of tubercuIous The present in
paratively small number OF guinea pigs The ear
her Investigations extend over dozen years. dur
was injected into the abdominal cavities OF hun
When milk injections into guinea pigs are made
by pathoosists or psychologists as test for
though not always sufficient precautions are taken
at the time of milking to protect the milk from
every kind that may reach 1t from the exterior
Of the COW or her environment. 1t follows that
the scientific injections give nearly accurate results
as to the frequency with which tuberculous cows
no data at all the frequency with which milk
from tubercuous cows or healthy cows in
terial when IT Is drawn and handled with the or
dinary precautions that a dalryman can eConomi-
The observations definitely show that the frs-
is greatly underestimate. especially when IT is
MIXED in the customary way from tuhercuious
cows with healthy udders. or from entirely healthy
cows in tubercuous environment. II has been
positively. shown that the introduction OF a small
quantity Of f@ces from tuberculous cattle into
NAL milk is equivalent TO the Introduction Of suf-
generalized tuberculosis In guinea pigs that are
given injections Of small amounts OF such solid
This is true not only with the faces Of a severely
affected COW, a cow that is swallowing cultures
OF tuberce baci, but also with the frees Of COWS
that not known 10 be affected with tuberculosis
untn a tubercuin test or post-nortem examination
has been made The quantity OF faces Introduce ed
into the milk was no greater than frequently en-,
with any means by which It can be determined
known to be affected with tuberculosis must be re
gives no information from which il is possible TO
determine how seriously a cow Is affected with
hacill Cattle affected with advanced tuberculosis
dangerous way may retain the appearance and give
the general impression Of perfect health.
about them after the most searching examination
by the owner or even by a trained veterinarian; ;
and, besides. It is not customary to make careful
examinations or to emPI9y Professionai m men to do
50 So until fattIe shoW marked symptoms OF disease
cattle and other animals. and more especially for
be periodically tested with tubercun. and every
COW that shows a reaction indicating that she Is
affected with tuberculosis should at once regardless
Of her general appearance or condition or sem
blanCe Of health. he removed from dairy
and from all contact with dairy cattle or other
healthy animals. II segregation is practised "
should be complete. that no healthy animal Will
be exposed to ffeCes that swarm with living.
Yirulent tuberce baci
Ffeces OF cattle In stables. fields and barnvards,
and roadways. splashed on the bodies OF
cattle. and frequently cattle lie down and get their
bodies coated with them. Frees thrown against
partitions of stalls and walls of stables. and are
prOmscuously switched about by the soiled tails
OF animals. and precauton or measure OF
cleanliness can entirely prevent them from getting
and clothing Of the stable attendants and mixers.
We have seen large quantities of milk strained in
many dairies, but have not found the dairy in
which the milk removed from the COWS with
a degree OF cleanliness perfect that the cloth
through which It strained did not
show the presence OF some cattle hairs and frag-
of substance suspicousy like faces. In
daries the quantity Of ftnCes that enters tho
milk pail both fresh and dry. TO judge from that
which collects In the strainer through which II Is
poured, is comparatively large.
The precautionary measures that can be used
by the dairyman are limited by the price OF milk;
which is so great that their application would
convert his business into phiianthropc enterprise.
REST FOR THE REV. DR.. A. ]. LYMAN.