Evening journal., 1911-03-22
TUBERCULOSIS
AMONG LIVE STOCK
Bovine Phase Of Disease IR-
CreaSeS Despite the
Efforts Made
ANNUAL TOLL MORE
THAN $23,OOO,OOO

WASHINGTON, March 22-The
great Importance to human health and
the great economic importance Of con-
troll of tuberculosis in cattle and hogs
and especially in cattle is emphasiz-
ed in bulletin on the subject, which
has just been put out by Secretary
Wilson and prepared under the dircc-
tion of DR.. A. ID. Melvin, chief Of the
Bureau of Animal Industry. The bull
letin embodies the report of an inter-
national commission of the American
Veterinary Medical Association on the
control of tuberculosis in cattle or
bovine tuberculosis.
Among the striking statements made
by DIR. Melvin is that in spite Of all
the work done to prevent the spread
of bovine tuberculosis the progress of
the disease has been more rapid than
the progress of the work against it
DR.. Melvin says the time has come
when something should be done In a
more definite, systematic and practi-
cal way and on a larger scale. He
says the greatest problem confronting
the live stock industry is the increas-
ing prevalence of tuberculosis among
cattle and hogs and the necessity Of
adopting measures for suppressing
and controlling this disease.
Toll of S23,000,0O0.
DR.. Melvin says a careful estimate
made by him for the International
Congress on tuberculosis in 1908
showed that tuberculosis of animals
exacts a toll Of over $23,000,000 annu-
ally. OF even greater moment than
this tremendous economic loss is the
sacrifice of human life and the i'm
pairment OF human. health from tuber-
culosis, almost universally regarded
by scientific investigators TO be due
in some considerable degree TO the ex-
istence of tuberculosis in animals
from which milk and other foods are
derived.
"No one who is informed on the
subject" says DR.. Melvin, "can fail to
realize that something should be done
to check the rapid spread of tubercu-
losis among cattle and hogs and to
control and eventually to eradicate
the disease. AS this disease in hogs
is nearly always contracted from
tuberculous cattle, it is believed that
If bovine tuberculosis were suppress
ed, swine tuberculosis would soon dis
appear-hence, our main attack must
be directed against the disease in cat
tie"
Plans Outlined.
In the bulletin is embodied the re-
port of the International commission
already mentioned which recommends
and outlines definite plans for the con
troll Of bovine tuberculosis. 1t states
important facts about the disease
urges the necessity for education ant
legislation, describes methods fol
handling cattle by breeders and dairy
men and proposes trict administrative
measures to be followed by public of
ficers. DR.. Melvin thinks the recon
mendations of the Commission poin
the way to more effective warfar
against this great common plague o
animals and men,"
Among the recommendations mad
is one to prevent dissemination of tn,
disease by preventing all contact be
tween healthy and tuberculous cattle
The tuberculin test is urged. Th'
Commission recommends the passage
of legislation providing for the com
pulsory notification by owners and b.
veterinarians of the existence OF tuber
culosis in a herd. A widespread cam
paign of education is urged to brin.
about proper cooperation amoni
physicians, veterinarians, live-stocl
owners, legislators and the public
generally. Uniformity of Legislation
among the States and on the part o
the United States and Canada rela
: tive to admission of cattle is one 0
} the strong recommendations.