Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-07-06
Medical Man Answers Criticisms
Of Tuberculin Test in
Livestock
MILK SOURCE OF INFECTION
T ubereuIin Test Held to Be of Utmost
Importance in Protecting Health of
PubIie-ToIl From tuberculosis APP
pallins-Dr. Evans Argues That Crit
icism Was inspired.
Special to Times Republican.

T.-R. for July 2, on the second page
there appeared an article regarding
in cattle, its occurrence in
milk, in meat, the tuberculin test. etc,
which is full of misleading statements,
and is evidently inspired by some one
interested in obstructing the
efforts of the state BOARD of health to
provide for inspection OF milk, butter,
and meat in this state.
In the article dated from Des Moines,
your reporter states that it is the con-
census of opinion on the state farms
that the tuberculin test is not suffice
iently accurate to be practicable, that
cattle with a moderate infection show
violent reactions, and vice versa, and
that cattle suffering from other condi-
tons will give the same reaction.
Test Still Valuable.
These statements are true, but they
in no way detract from the value of
the test. There are very few normal
animals which will react to the test,
and sany animal suffering
from any other disease which
will cause the animal to
have a fever, be 1t ever SO slight.
makes that animal Ineligible for the
test, and also, incidentally, unfit for
slaughter house or dairy for the time
being. After the animal has recovered
from its infection, or other disorder.
and becomes fit for food, or milking,
then 1t Is in condition for the tubercu-
lin test. Animals which are in the adj
vanced stage of the disease do not re-
act or react very slightly, because they
do not have the vitality and resist
ance to do so. However competent
understands the condi-
lions under which a test must be given.
and can demonstrate the disease In Its
advanced stage without the applica-
ton Of the test Properly controlled
the test is exceedingly efficient, and
the small amount of error in given
number Of tests is so insignificant as
to be negIible quantity in COMPARE
son to the immense amount of good
that results from its widespread use.
No competent veterinarian, on the
state farms or off of them. ever adj
ministers the test without determining
that the animal is free from fever. be
it caused from "a scratch on the hoof
or other cause hence | must insist that
the conclusions drawn by your CORE
spondent-that the test is inefficient
are the veriest rot. and the product of
biased transformation or gross gnor-
ance.
Frequent Source Of Infection.
Another statement that I wish to
take exception to is that tuberculosis
does not occur in milk except in those
cases In which the udder is diseased.
Allow me to refer to the researches Of
DR. Ravenal, of the University of Wis
consin, and DR.. Theobald Smith, of
Baltimore. These men have demon
strated that tubercle bacilli are FREE
quently found in milk and butter from
healthy animals, and that
one Of the most frequent sources of In
lection in human beings Is by the use
of milk and butter from infected ami
mails. DIR. Won Behring, the noted Ger
man authority, claims. that all cases
Of tuberculosis are contracted, not by
!nhaling infected dust, but by swal-
lowing infected food and dust infected
mucuos from the nose and throat. This
view so generally prevails among SCI
entists that so conservative a body as
the Iowa state board of health has
gone to work on that basis.
The May and June numbers OF the
Bulletin -the official organ of the
board-should be read by every man
and woman in the state The oppo-
sition to the inspection of herds is
generally among cattle owners and
dairy men, tho not a few are testing
their herds voluntarily and sacrificing
the cattle that react as good citizens
should do. The spirit Of opposition on
account Of the cost is the same spirit
that has attempted to block the
wheels of progress for ages - the
nemesis of the pocketbook. Short
sighted, pusillanfm ungenerous. 1t
refuses to believe what is disagreeable
to believe. The ostrich hides Its head
in the sand to conceal itself from Its
enemies, which is no more futile Tor
the safety Of the ostrich than the de-
NAL of the facts about tuberculosis by
the gentleman OF the opposition is for
the safety of the race. Mere denial
does not nullify the truth, opinions
from incompetent embryonic observers
to the contrary not withstanding.
The tuberculin test is a good test.
A very frequent source OF disease is
infected milk.
1t is not necessary for the protection
of diseased milk. to have a diseased
udder.
A Wrong Impression.
The impression intended to be Gre
ated by the article in the paper of July
is exactly the opposite of these facts.
No one who takes the pains to investi-
gate these things in a fair and scien-
tific spirit will controvert these state
ments. The worlds greatest scientists
sideration in their opinions as the
pseudo investdgator who are re-
sponsible for the statements of which
they complain.
zone of the chief difficulties is the
cost" Yes, and always will be. always
has been. and, in truth, it is the only
difficulty
In times past one could hire muir
der done, since 1T cost but a trifle. 1t
was possible too. to hire a murderer
not do murder and that cost but a
trifle. True, 1T cost" something in
either case.
Nowadays, 1t is difficult for an
honest murderer to get enough muir
derer-work to do TO keep him and his
family from starvation, since new
very influential group of individuals
has gone into the assassination bust
ness on a big scale, not by any such