South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-10

vent its spread.
IN 1855 a German physician dis
covered that tuberculosis in humans
was due to a germ. Later a similar
disease in cattle was found 10 be due
TO a germ closely resembling the
first. and further that the disease Of
cattle was transmitted to hogs and
chickens which followed them in the
barnyards. The germ or bacillus of
fowl tuberculosis is a slender rod
shaped germ. which can be stained
and observed under the microscope.
II must be magnified at least 1000
times TO be visible TO the naked eye.
This acid-fast germ causes a disease
in fowls and possibly other birds,
from which can be isolated by labor
atory methods, "A similar organism
10 that producing tuberculosis in
persons and cattle. IL differs in
minor details. and is considered as
being another type from the other
two.
How Fowls Contract the Germ.
Like hogs. fowls often follow the
trail OF cattle in the feed lot. picking
up undigested corn and other grains.
II the cattle are afflicted with tuber-
culosis, the birds are likely TO re-
ceive these virulent germs and con-
tract the disease Hogs are known
10 contract the disease in the same
way. and later distribute the disease
TO others.
Naturally fowls afflicted with tu-
bercular ulcers give off germs of the
disease, and t3 the habit OF fowls is
10 pick up their food from the
ground. II IS an easy matter for the
disease TO spread throughout
flock
Fortunately, tuberculosis is not
very common disease. and for that
reason very few breeders are famil-
liar with II. IL is not generally
known that a bird may be afflicted
with tuberculosis and yet show no
outward signs of the disease. II such
a bird Is shipped in a crate or kept
in a pen. which crate or pen is later
used for other birds. the new birds
are likely 10 contract the disease.
Carton Birds Spread Disease.
Birds which have died of the dis
case. If their bodies are carelessIy
thrown around the premises are
constant menace 20 other fowls.
Crows. buzzards and other carrion
birds are apt 90 feast upon these
bodies and still further add to the
danger. Some states have laws for
bidding the killing Of buzzards
which should be repealed. II is
proven fact that buzzards feast upon
animals dead Of contagious diseases
and then fly long distances spread
irg the disease either through their
droppings or vomituS. or by ahght-
ing on other premises. Instead of
pcnalizing the killing OF huzzards,
those states should offer bounty
for them. The moral of this tale is
n be careful and deeply bury an
carcasses. preferably IN lime. or
better still IL possible. burn them
Immediately they are found Not
only the bodies OF birds afflicted
with contagious diseases should be
burned. but all animal matter should
be so treated.
DOGS. cats. rats mice and other
animals. even persons, serve 10
spread the disease. The germs are
carried on the feet and in the fur
Of these creatures. and carried from
ward 10 yard. sometimes spreading
the contagion for hundreds of miles.
This is one Of the reasons for "a
rigid quarantine against an con
-agious disease among animals. And
quarantine regulations should I'M
clude confessions diseases OF birds.
The department OF agriculture es-
Inmates that the total annual loss %
poultry from disease alone Is SIS
500. 0ao. OF which tuberculosis takes
n certain toll. Though IL Is an un-
common disease. IL is SO malignant
that poultry Keepers must learn 10
recognize II. Rare as II Is. IN differ
cnt parts Of the country II has been
found 10 exist for wears, even when
rigid action was taken 70 stamp II
out. By keeping a close watch We
,an keep this dangerous disease
from making terrible inroads on our
rocks like 10 made ON the dairy
cattle OF our country. We must take
"a firm stand I'm stamping and keep