The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-02-20

of both men and animals and has
worldwide distribution. Human beings
and cattle are the chief victims, but
there is no animal that is immune. In
dairy or other herds Of cattle it may
spread from COW to cow and not at.
tract much attention until almost every
animal in the herd Is affected. So con-
cealed in its attacks is this disease
that it may be present several months
or even years before any noticeable
signs appear.
History of the Disease.
No one knows where 1t came from
History records it from earliest times,
and more than a century ago doctors
had suspected it's contagion and many
facts were recorded to prove this be-
lief. 1t was the subject Of scientific
investigation and was hotly disputed
until 1882, when Doctor Robert Koch,
a German physician, discovered the
germ of the disease ana named 1t Ra-
ciilus tuberculosis. Many experiments
have proved that this germ is the
cause of the disease and without it
the disease cannot exist.
The disease was introduced into
America with the early importations
of cattle and yet remains with us. 1t
has been found that the disease Is
universally spread and is transmissi-
BILE from animals to man.
The economic Importance Of the dis
ease must be ascertained from two
points of view: the loss to cattle
owners and the danger of communica-
ton to human beings. A large per-
centage of the dairy COWS on this con-
tinent are affected and larger per-
centage of the herds have the disease
present in their midst From this it
can be seen that no small loss is en-
tailed upon the farmer, breeder or
stockman.
Importance Of the Disease.
The COWS break down and waste
away, the beeves when slaughtered are
found unfit for food, the calves do not
remain healthy or strong, and in gen.
eral the entire operation of keeping
tuberculous cows is loss. Hogs fol-
lowing the cows become infected, as
do chickens or other animals, and thus
again loss is incurred. However, aside
from the financial loss to the farmer a
few facts otherwise are very impor-
tant. The community at large is vital
lily interested. His family, his GUS
toners or patrons are likely to become
infected; and thus society in general
suffers. Milk being largely used for
infant feeding inoculates these, and
thousands of helpless babes die an
nually from this so-called great white
plague"
Symptoms Of the Disease.
In describing the symptoms Of this
malady it should be understood in the
outset that no symptom is certain. Any
symptom characteristic of tuberculosis
may sometimes be of another disease,
and none Is characteristic of this
disease alone.
The human physician has several
means of diagnosis not available to the
veterinarian, such as listening to the
sounds of the lungs The thick skin
and chest wall of cattle make this i'm
possible. Furthermore, it must be re-
membered that some animals, looking
perfectly healthy, fat, sleek, and ener-
getic, may be infected and become liv-
ing disseminators Of the germs.
The most characteristic symptoms
are unthriftiness, loss in flesh, sub
dued and infrequent coughs, enlarged
glands, loss Of appetite, bloating and
diarrhea; or if the attack is in the
udder, hard Jumps may appear.
The milk from infected COWS, ex-
hailed air, excreta, mucus and any dis
charged material is likely to be teem-
ing with germs Of the disease.
Post-mortem examinations will re-
veal the presence Of the disease in the
various organs or systems Of the body
as marked by the hard, dry or cheesy
and yellowish Jumps or tubercles The
favorite place for these is in the lungs
and these should always be examined.
Tubercles may be found almost any,
where in the body - bowels, udder,
liver, lungs or glands. They are sell
dom If ever found in the muscles or
skin
Nature has fitted the body of both
man and animal for considerable re-
sistance to this as to other diseases,
but this of itself can only accomplish
one end in most cases-the prolonga-
ton of the time when the individual
must succumb to the attack.
The disease may spread from any of