The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-15
TUBERCULIN CATTLE TEST.

An important pamphlet on the tuber-
lculin test of cattle for tuberculosis has
been issued by John r. Mohler, A. M,
v. NJ. D., chief of the pathological di-
vision, bureau of animal industry of the
federal department of agriculture. Its
Importance lies in the fact that it seems
to prove conclusively that this is the
most efficacious test to ascertain the
prevalence of tuberculosis in cattle
and that the test is not dangerous.
Then there are instructions how to adj
minister the test. which should be of
great value to farmers and dairymen
in particular.
AS a result of the careful study of the
tuberculosis test DR.. Mohler draws the
following conclusions: That a tubercu-
lin test is a wonderfully accurate meth
cd of determining whether an animal is
affected with tuberculosis: That by the
use of tuberculin the animals diseased
with tuberculosis may be detected and
removed from the herd. thereby eradi-
eating the disease: That tuberculin has
no injurious effect upon healthy cattle.
and: That the comparatively small
number of cattle which have aborted
suffered in health. or fallen off in con-
dition after the tuberculin test were
either diseased before the test was
made or were affected by some cause
other than the tuberculin.
The directions for making the tuber-
cuHn test follows:
Stable cattle under usual conditions
and among usual surroundings, feed
ing and watering in the customary
manner.
Make a physical examination of each
animal, and give to each one some
designation by which the animal will
be known throughout the test.
Take each animals temperature at
least three times at two or three hour
intervals on the day of injection; for
instance, at 2, 5. and p. m. :
AT or 10 p. m. inject a. dose of tub
eFeulin under the skin in the region of
the shoulder using a sterile hypoder-
mic syringe after disinfecting the skin
at the seat of injection with a per
cent solution of carbolic acid or a SINH
lar antiseptic solution.
Tuberculin is not always concentra-
ted to the same degree, and therefore
the dose, which should always appear
on the label, varies considerably. The
dose of imported tuberculin is OPS c.
c. for an adult COW, and before injec-
ton is diluted with sterile water to 2
C. c. The tuberculin made by the bu-
reau of animal industry is prepared so
that it will not be necessary to dilute
it, and the dose is 2 c. C. for an adult
animal Yearlings and 2-year-olds, ac-
cording the size, should receive from
to 113 c. c., while bulls and very large
a nimals may receive C. C.
At a. m. on the day following the
injection of tuberculin commence TAX
ing temperatures. and continue every
two or three hours until the twentieth
hour after injection, at which time If
there is no tendency for the tempera-
ture to rise the test may cease
A rise of 2 degrees F. or more above
the maximum temperature observed on
the previous day, providing the tenn
perature after injection exceeds 1O3. 8
degrees F., should be regarded as an
indication of tuberculosis. Those cases
which approximate but do not reach
this standard should be considered as
suspicious and held for a retest six
weeks later, giving double the original
dose