The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-06-02
TUBERCULOSIS
AMONG CATTLE
HOW TOP REvENT SPREAD OF
DREADFUL SCouRGE-No
CERTAIN CURE.

This ID a disease which materially
Affects stock raising in all parts OF the
world. No climate or locality is ex.
empt. All ages and breeds are at.
tackled. 1t is also by far the most
dreadful sCourge with which the hum
an race has to do. Among domestic
animals, cattle take the disease most
easily. while hogs are second in this
regard. Horses are not often attacked.
Even chickens are subject to the dis
ease.
In former years tuberculosis was
most commonly found in cattle of city
dairies and in pure breeds.
Although the varieties OF the dis
ease in man and in the OK have Ger
tain important differences, 1t is known
that the human variety Of tuberculosis
may attack the OK and vice versa.
After killing an animal badly at.
fected with the disease and examining
the internal organs, one may see
white or yellowish spots or punches
called "tubercles," which are not nat.
ural and which are the centers of the
fected are the lungs and the bowels.
The cause of tuberculosis is a very
tiny form of vegetable life, called the
germ or bacillus of tuberculosis This
is so small that the strongest powers
of the microscope are required to see
it, and thousands and even millions
of them are present in the diseased
animal. The bacillus Of tuberculosis
was discovered in 1882 by Dr. Koch,
a famous German scientist.
The most important conditions
which favor the disease are lack of
fresh air and sunshine, such as comes
with close confinement in poorly ven
tiated and poorly lighted stables, and
in close association with tuberculous
animals.
The disease germs enter the lungs
with the air usually in the form of
dust from manure coming from a tn
berculous animal, or by way of the
bowels with the food. The manure
from cattle having tuberculosis is thus
the most dangerous means of spread.
ing the disease.
The milk of tuberculous COW may
contain germs OF the disease, especial
ly if the udder itself is affected Such
milk Is unfit for use. Healthy milk is
also unfit for use if tuberculous man
IRE gets into it.
Unfortunately, a tuberculous animal,
as a rule. shows no symptims by
which the disease can be detected,
even in the last stages OF the disease.
The only reliable way of detecting the
disease is the tuberculin test. Any
good veterinarian can apply this test
In this test a small dose Of tuberculin
is injected under the skin of the an
imal to be tested II the animal has
tuberculosis it will have a fever on
the day after injection, If it is healthy
the temperature on the day after in
lection will be about the same as on
the day before, as shown by the veter
inarian's thermometer.
There is no certain cure for tuber
culosis in cattle.
The cattle which are shown to have
tuberculosis by the tubercultn test are
called tuberculin "reactors." The re.
actors must be removed from the
herd at once in order to keep the dis
ease from spreading. They may be
sold to the packing houses to be
slaughtered and then examined by the
meat inspectors in the employ of the
United States government. If it is de-
sired to save tuberculosis cows for
few years in order that these may pro
duce calves, such cows must be kept |
1uarantined. that is to say, In a sep |
arate yard, where there will be no
chance for manure from them to be
carried into the ward or pasture where |
the healthy cattle are kept, either by |
the wind or on the shoes Of the men
who take care Of them,
Calves born from tuberculosis cows |
should be taken from their mothers
shortly after birth and be placed with |
healthy COWS before they have a |
chance to catch the disease.