The Washington times., 1910-10-22
The Tuberculin Test Reduced to Words
Of One Syllable.

The Wasngonian who is interested in the kind of milk he
and in the price he pays for should not throw up his hands despair
and jump to the conclusion that he cannot understand the issues the
controversy raging because OF the mysterious scientific terms used
by experts milk dealers their arguments for and
against regulation
The scientific term used most frequently "tubercun test" but
there's nothing mysterious about the test ITSELF there's why
every District should understand thor
ouglly.
tbercun test merely test ascertain whether has
bovine tuberculosis consumption The scientists have dscov
cred that certain fluid which they have learned to make,
injected into COW will cause condition by which can be determined
whether the cow has consumption.
The veterinary takes small portion of the serum which is called
ubercu and nes beneath the skin If the has ber
cOsi she will develop fever within hours after the injection
she is free from tuberculosis she Will develop fever; the
will have effect than much water. After the
injected the cows temperature taken with veterinarians themOm
eter to ascertain whether she has developed fever
That's all there is to the mucdbussed tbercn test There's
nothing mySteriously scientific about that there?
Now have heard great deal lately to whether
ubercun test reliable That IS has tuberculosis will she
always develop tubercn injected
tuberculosis will her temperature always remain normal after the uber
cun injected That's question which, naturally must be definitely
determined If we're going out among the farmers to test their cattle
with tun and to make them destroy every that has after
the test applied must be positive the would
be unjust to the farmer force him the the basis for
cleaning up his herd unless that the told story
wouldn't it, What do know, then, about the reliability of the
tuberCun test?
That from 1898 to 1908 the ubeTn test applied TO 4OOOO8
cattle under The jurisdiction of the Bureau Animal Industry Of the
Department of Agriculture.
That $1,000 of them had fever afterwards.
That 24784 of the $1,000 slaughtered under the bureaus
inspection.
That 1887 or $3.50 per of those slaughtered were found
when examined after death, TO have tuberculosis.
That there apparent the test in 397 out of 484
or that the percentage Of 1.61 per Cent.
the experience of all scientists of countries
permented with bercun has been substantially the the
psence OF those who have conducted and studied the under the
Bureau of Animal Industry.
That the universal scientific conclusion to the reliability Of the
that from % to 60 per Of ali cases
in which it is used
From this may conclude that the ubercuin test while not
nfab is sufficiently reliable to justify its acceptance conclusive
evidence determining whether has tuberculosis.
The question the tubecun test not the only question that
must be solved in the present milk controversy is important
question however and with which the people Of the community
should famaze themselves In the light of the evidence hand
they must admit reliability Whether they demand its
forcemen among the owners the herds who furnish them
IS another to be decided.
the hearings before the Chamber of Commerce progress infOT
nation on which decision reached will undoubtedly obtained
1t should be considered by every and in Washington.