Gilpin observer., 1909-06-10
Governing Rejection Of Meat
From TubercuIar Animals

| hlhoAo6iob VI IAc veterinary depart
ment of the Colorado Agricultural
college, spent eight and one-half
years as Veterinary Meat Inspector
for the United States Department of
Agriculture. The following is dis
cussion by him of the fitness or un-
fitness of meat from COWS in differ
ent stages of tuberculosis.
Two questions often arise: First If
a COW has tuberculosis, does the
milk contain the tubercule germ? Sc
cond, if COW reacts to the tuber.
culin test, is the meat fit for food
Answer to the first question: 1t
has long been known to comparative
pathologists that if the udder of a
COW be tubercular that the milk will
contain the germs, and l have one
case on record where whole herd
fected with tuberculosis. If the I'D
der is not tuberculous, will the milk
contain the germs? To determine this
matter positively, experiments were
SohouSlSu III lllS dlhoiOSlCdl ldUOl
tory of the United States Department
of Agriculture. These experiments
covered period of three years. The
conclusions Of these extensive ex-
periments are given on page SO Of
Bulletin No. "A, U. S. Department
of Agriculture, which are as follows:
''The tubercule bacillus may be de-
monstrated in milk from tuberculous
cows when the udders show no evil
dence Of the disease"
The bacillus may be excreted from
such an udder in sufficient numbers
to produce infection in experimental
animals both by injection and inocu-
lation.
/ From these accurate scientific in
vestigations we must regard the milk
of cow reacting to the tuberculin
test as dangerous.
In giving the results of the accur-
acy of the tuberculin test we find
the following in the same bulletin,
quoted from the same series of ex-
periments: Thus out Of 146 cows
injected, but one reaction was con-
sidered questionable, and, as before
stated, the post mortem on this ami
NAL indicated that the cause of this
uncertainty was due either to the
minute size Of the lesion, or the ten
dency toward encapsulation, or BOTH"
In answer to the second question
we are often brought to face the
passing or condemnation of a carcass
of COW which has reacted the
| tuberculin test. AS l have conclu-
sively shown above that a COW will
react to the tuberculin test no mat
ter what stage of development the
disease may be in, the only question
left is to find the lesion or LESSONS
and determine whether or not it is
localized or generalized. If localized,
the diseased parts must be thorough
| 1y removed and the carcasses passed.
If generalized, it must be condemned
and destroyed.
tuberculosis, like actinomycosis
and many contagious diseases of a
chronic type, has at first one point
of infection, and after a long time
becomes generalized. The localiza-
tion or generalization of this disease
can only be told upon a careful ex.
animation of the organs, glands and
other tissues Of the body after death.
Hence the milk from COW that has
reacted to the tuberculin test is al
ways dangerous, but for food the
veterinarian has only to determine
whether or not the disease is local
or whether it is generalized, or the
germs have entered the blood and
started other centers of disease
which it will do as soon as it enters.
The rulings of the Bureau of Ami
NAL Industry, U. S. Department Of
Agriculture will not be questioned,
for before these rules were formulat-
ed every comparative pathologist in
this country and abroad was con-
suited as to his opinion as to the
conditions under which meat should
be condemned.
The veterinary inspector knows the
tubercular LESSONS as localized, ex-
tensive, or generalized, and according
to ruling on page five of B. A. /.
Order No. 1875, U. S. Department of
Agriculture, an inspector has good
authority Of the highest recognition
to condemn the meat IL the condition
is In an extensive or generalized one,
and to pass 1t II the lesion be small
and localized, and confined to one
body cavity, or If the lesion is thor.