The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-01-08

b%erculosis Is Being Pushed With
Is the Greatest Danger to a Heal
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)
Bovine tuberculosis, which is preva-
lent in every state and territory in the
United States to a greater or less de-
gree, is the object of concerted attack
by state and federal sanitary officials.
1t is the most costly of cattle diseases.
causing the loss of millions Of dollars
annually to the American live stock in
dustry, and planting the source for po-
tential losses by the broadspread dis
tribution of active and dominant TB
germs. tuberculosis was disseminated
from the eastern part of the
United States into the middle west
ern, western and southern states by
means of imported cattle, and with
the development Of cattle raising in
central and western states it's spread
was facilitated. In some localities in
the West where dairying has developed
extensively it is now known that car
'o"uS NO"s' puASi'"SSu +" UNIV
states, have contained so per cent or
more Of tubercular animals. Some
herds of beef cattle in the western
country have become contaminated
with the disease from t~uberculous
purebred bulls and cows that came
from diseased herds elsewhere.
The t~uberculous COW is the greatest
source Of danger to healthy cattle. Any
reacting cattle not promptly removed
from the herd constitute a constant
source of infection. T~uberculous cattle
soone or later begin to give off the
germs of the disease. These germs es-
cape by the mouth, nose and bowels,
and in milk. The discharged germs are
carried in the air for q time until they
fall to the ground. Healthy animals
eat and thus contract the disease. Con-
tinuous water troughs in barns contain
ing diseased cattle, drinking holes con-
tanning material from infected animals.
failure to clean and disinfect the
premises occupied by the diseased cat
tie, and infected milking tubes and the
practice of feeding calves with raw
milk from tuherculous COWS, are
means by which tuberculosis spreads
in a herd.
Sunlight Kills Germs.
Tuberculosis is caused by a rod
shaped germ visible only under a high
powered microscope. When exposed
to the direct rays of the sun it dies
quickly-a fact to be noted in the dis
infection Of pastures, paddocks and
barn lots. While it is necessary for
the germs Of tuberculosis to ,e intro
duced into the body of the animal be-
fore the disease can be produced, there
are many conditions or accessory
causes which make animals especially
susceptible to tuberculosis. Stabling
animals in dark, poorly ventilated and
dirty barns helps to spread tuberculo-
sis among the stock whenever the
germs are present. Any condition that
produces constant strain upon the sys-
tenn Of animals, such as continued
forced lactation periods, renders them
Mt subjects for the development Of tu-
berculosis.
The tuberculous COW Is not only a
menace to her mates, but is also the
most common u n Of infection to
swine, particularly where unpasteur-
ICED skim milk is utilized in the pork
making ration. The central skimming
station is a tremendous source Of dis
ease transmission where the skim milk
is not pasteurized, as this material Is
returned to the farms for feeding pur-
poses, and the contaminated milk Of
but a few cows may infect the entire
supply. Similarly, under corn-belt con-
ditions where hogs follow cattle in the
feed lots or pastures, tuberculosis is
rapidly transmitted. Swine may also
contract tuberculosis by eating parts
Of the carcasses of infected cattle,
swine or poultry. Other sources Of
contamination are infected sputum
from human beings, and the feeding
Of uncooked garbage containing the
Germs Of tuberculosis.
TubercuIin Test Reliable.
A general rundown condition. accom-
panied by a cough, is often consid.
cred to be a case Of tuberculosis, but
is not a conclusive symptom, as the
disease often involves the lymphatic
glands, and an examination of such
glands in the living animal is helpful
in diagnosing the disease. The glands
Of the throat, udder and point of the
shoulder often present an abnormal
condition. A tuberculin test. which in
iuces characteristic temperature reac-
ton in tuberculous animals after tu-
berculin is injected, is the most de
pendable means of detection. No harm
can result to healthy animals from
:he proper application Of tuberculin,
even In doses many times greater than
those c%ustomarily used. The subclta-
neous test-the injection Of a proper
NJ tuhercnltn nndor tho al In