The Democratic advocate., 1909-02-19
.TUDERCULOUS CATTLE
HOW THE DAIRYMAN MAY DISCOVER
IF HIS COWS ARE AFFECTED
Serum for Testing Purposes Furnished
by U. S. Agricultural Department

on bovine tuberculosis In a recent
article In the Sun which we herewith
reproduce for the benefit of Carroll
dairymen.
In reply TO many questions from
farmers about tuberculin and bovine
tuberculosis | will state for their bene-
fit:
Tubereulin is prepared from glycer-
mated bouillon In which tubercle ba-
cilli have been grown from six TO eight
weeks. The bouillon culture Is first
boiled for two hours to kill all the
living organisms. II is then filtered
under pressure through a germ-proof
earthenware filter to remove the dead
bodies OF the germs and concentrated
by evaporation. little carbolic acid
added, and Il is then bottled for dis
tribution. Its injection into COWS af-
fected with tuberculosis is followed in
IL hours by rise of temperature
which lasts several hours and gradu-
ally declines % normal II Is pre-
pared by the Department of Agrlcul-
ture at Washington and distributed
among the various State experiment
stations for distribution.
Any intelligent dalryman who will
make a little effort to familiarizo him
self with the test can use II on his own
cows with good results The expense
Of employing professional TO per-
form every detail Of the test is not
only often prohibitiye. but In many
districts no qualified practitioner ia
available.
To make your test you need a yeter-
mary hypudermle syringe of at least
ak cubic centimetera capacity, with
number Of short, stout needles. rcin-
forced at the base You will require
half dozen guaranteed clinical ther-
mometers for veterinary purposes.
which are made Of thicker glass with
a ring In the end The veterinary hypo-
defmic syringe can be purchased al
any store that sells surgical inatru-
ments. and the thermometers from al
most ans drug store You viii require
pint can Of creoiin and one pound OF
lard. Your tuherculin outfit Is now
complete, and You are ready 10 begin
taking the normal temperatures Of
the COWS you want 20 test
Smear the bulb OF the thermometer
and the index finger with the lard after
you have mixed with the lar6 tea
SPOONFUL of the creollu This will IA
cllitste the operation Insert tho thcr-
mometer the full length. faston u with
a cord string 40 n the thermometer Ia
thrown out II will NOT be broken
The normal temperature OF milk
cows averages between i0i 10 i02 de-
Rrees Fahr. let the Thermometer re-
main three minutes. Take the FIRST
temperature after the mornings milk
ing. aud at two hour intervals dur
ing the day and after the last tempcra-
turo az night inject the tuberculin
Have small book. number your cows
and keep record Of the animals tenn
perature at the various tests during
I the day A. night. after you have a
record Of the cows temperature. take
your hypodermic syringe and dlain-
Z feet by drawing Il fun 81 crc0lin
rmptyinR and ringiBE in boiling water
before the test Dip the tip of the
syringe Ia the creoiin TO diainfect, then
al the syringe through the needle from
the bottle of tuberculin and avoid con
I Eliminating u with dust Set tho burr
on the piston rod Of the syringe. no
I that not more than the dose intended
can be injected The size OF dose iR
/ stated on the tuberculln bottle Make
/ your injection in the side of the neck
/ where the skin ~ thin and loose A
l fold OF the akin Is taken In the left
hand, and the syringe inserted in the
I pocbAt thus formed aud the dose In
/ lected. After the Injection, about
/ the tenth. twelfth fourteenth and six
I teenth hours, take the temperature of
I the cows. When a Gov shows a rise
above i03 degrees Fair. II is better
TO take the temperature ut more fire.
quent intervals The elevation OF
tempaxature comes on gradually. al
/ though in the more pronounced cases.
/ where temperature goes above i0h do
grces Fair, the rise ig frequently
abrupt When the temperature reaches
iOI degrees Fair or more and ls
maintained for some hours the COW
has tuberculosis. Notwithstanding
she may appear In fine condition. she
as dangerous In spreading the dis
\ symptoms. The disease IL seldom
manifest until the development ot the
/ tubercles is so great that their pres
ence inteTefeTes with the duty OF some
vital organ. The reactlng cows ex-
I bibit n wide variation In the durB-
ton OF dIsepse In the majority Of
the cows the disease pursues leis-
urely course. consuming months be-
fore causing death; others develop n
rapidly fatal type al the start II is
unobtrusive, and It's urogress IL 10
| gradual that it's presence does not
inspire apprehension 10 the average
dairyman. The value OF tuberculln
as a diagnogtic agency enables the
progressive dairyman TO dispose OF
his reacting cows TO those farmers and
cattle dealers who do not have faith
| In the tuberculin test, instead OF keep
! Ing the stock until they show signs
i physically of tuberculosis, and In the
end selling them 10 the pudding butch
er for about the value OF the hair.
hide and horns.
/ The farmers who wishes to keep
| his herd free OF tuberculosis should
test his cows every six months. do
not know whether you can transmit
bovine tuberculosis TO the human
race, but the preponderance OF opinion
In the pathological world Is in the
| Affirmative, and the sentiment Is grow
ing among the milk consumers In the
cities that the disease is a menace
TO public health
The health departments in the cities
would have long since Jumped at
conclusions" and required the tuber-
culin tests for milk sold In the city
had they not been afraid OF the inn
mense cost and the scarcity OF milk
4 II would produce. Such a law they
have the undoubted right TO enact,
and they may spring any drastic law
upon you at any moment as they
know that 30 per cent of the milk
\ supplied the city is from tubefculous
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