The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-04-02
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. E. LARSON.
TUBERCULOSIS IN CATTLE.
WHAT OF ITI

| Many a fine herd has been slaughtered
because this dreaded disease has found
its way into it and gradually spread to
all the individual members. Many a
farmer has had to see his cows killed
one by one, each death revealing a con-
dition that made his heart sick to think
that his own children had been using
the milk that the tuberculous cows had
produced. Thousands of dollars nave
been lost in the state of Wisconsin be
| cause this disease was not discovered in
time and checked. Yes, indeed tuber-
culosis in cattle is a reality.
Furthermore it is a reality in our coun
ty. How much of it exists we do not
know. 1t would be very unusual if in
a dairy community the size of Manito-
woo County there would not be found
cases Of tuberculosis. The discovery OF
the disease in the herd of William Zieg
| Ter of kasson suggests the fact that 1t
may be found where it is not suspected.
Mr. Ziegler had herd of 80 head. They
were fine looking cattle. In most Of
|
them an ordinary would not have
suspected the disease. Yet out of that
number 81 were condemned and start
! ling fact was revealed that the COW
whose milk had been considered the best
and therefore used for the table was
found to be among the number con
demned.
Well, if it does exist, what of It? In
the first place this disease spreads rap
idly especially when cattle are kept in
poorly ventilated stables. If You have
one tuberculous COW now the chances
are that you will have several by an
orher spring. Disease germs multiply
rapidly.
In few weeks you will be taking
your milk to the factory and take whey
or skim milk home These are fed to
the calves and hogs If milk from
tuberculous cattle is brought to the
factory the germs are spread through
these by products and the number of
cases is multiplied. 1t has been found
that the disease can be transmitted to
the hogs thus causing loss in this in
dustry.
Put, .wors. of all it has been demon
strated that cattle tuberculosis can be
transmitted to human beings. This
does not mean that the drinking Of
milk from tuberculous cows will al
ways cause consumption. But suppose
your child is sickly; it may have a few
er; its digestive organs may be deranged.
Milk then becomes its chief diet, The
tissues are weak and the disease germs
find in them good ground to grow. The
system is weak, hence 1t cannot throw
out these germs. Perhaps during that
little fever attack these deadly germs
were sown in the child's system by the
loving mother herself when she tried to
relieve the child's thirst. Who can tell
how many cases of consumption may
have had their origin in some such few
er attack?
This plea is not merely sentimental. 1t
1
at least, that there are but few cases in the
county at the present time. That is the
reason why we should stamp it out now.
Mr.. A Salverson of Newton has had his
cows tested and none of them reacted.
Others have tested their herds and
found them free. They rest easier be-
cause of If. Even if Mr.. Salverson had
found tuberculous cows in his herd it
would have been of great Importance to
him to know it. Mr.. Ziegler is glad
that he tested his herd although 1t
, means a temporary financial loss. Let
! the matter go and you may lose your
whole herd as has been the case in
many instances in the southern part of
the state. A man who fears to make the
test because he thinks it may cost him
a little is very much like Il e man who
: had lost a five cent piece through a
crack in the sidewalk and afterward
tried TO force a silver dollar through in
order to make it worth while to pull uI
the plank
What of it, therefore, if we have here
and there tubeYculous COW? First,
it is economically important that these
cows be slaughtered as it will save fin
ancial loss Second, it is a matter OF
I health to human beings and this Ger
tainly onght to make us anxious to dc
: all we can to stamp out this disease
e which, we hope, is but in its infancy.
What can be done?
The tubercuin test has been found tt
be almost infallible. 1t does not hur
the COW in any way and is very easily
made.
Application for the tuberculin is made
on blank which can be obtained by
, writing Prof. II. l.. Russell Experiment
Station, Madison. Ia this application
the owner Of he herd agrees to certain
: conditions. among which are that ht
will use the tuberculin within 30 days
that he will isolate any cattle which are
found to react and sell them only fol
immediate slaughter; and that ht
will thoroughly disinfect the stables
In case an animal is SO far gone as tC
have its beef condemned it may be TAX
en- charge of by the proper officials who