The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-06-17
DANGER TO HUMAN
LIFE OF CATTLE
TUBERCULOSIS
Prominent Educator and Student
Writes Interesting Paper on the
Effect Of Tubercular Cattle On
Those Who Use MIX.

: ogy, University of Missouri Column
I bia, Mo-
All authorities agree that tubercu
losis Of cattle is caused by germ
(which is essentially the same as tina
causing the human disease, and ina
the cattle disease can be transferred
s to human beings by the use OF cattit
: products containing the cattle germ
The matter has been carefully investi'
gated by many PSYCHOLOGISTS and by
two governments, the English and the
German. The German commission
found that one-fourth Of the tuber-
culous children examined had become
infected from cattle. The English
commissions findings are closely IN
accord with these. If only tuberculo-
sis of the digestive tract Is considered,
the English commission found that
more than fifty per cent. of the cases
showed infection with the bovine germ
The only point on which there is still
some controversy is the actual fire.
ouency of the cattle type of tubercu-
losis in human beings.
The cattle type of tuberculosis IS
found almost exclusively in children.
It is most frequent In children under
five wears of age, and is rarely found
after the age of sixteen. In children
it affects chiefly the digestive tract,
the glands and the bones. In the alb
domen it causes great enlargement OF
| the glands related to the intestine. The
| glands about the neck are frequently
affected, and the bones and joints
throughout the body may become in
yolved. Generalized tuberculosis &C.
ours fairly often. The tonsils are fire.
yuently affected, even when no other
evidenced of the disease can be found
The greater susceptibility of infants
and children to bovine infection Is
we'll illustrated in the following fig
ures collected in England by Grifhth:
Among $50 cases Of tuberculosis OF
all ages, there were, 1856 under years.
of which IS or 32.4 per cent were bo-
vine; 265, 5 to 10 years, of which 10
or 26.S per cent. were bovine; III, III
to Is years, Of which is or 12.6 per
cent. we're bovine; 342, over l6 years,
of which IS or SO per cent. were Boz
vine."
In New York City it has been shown
that with the average raw milk supply,
about ten per cent Of al deaths from
tuberculosis in children under five are
due to the cattle germ. In England the
number of children who suffer from
the cattle or bovine type of tubercu-
LOST, is apparently much higher than
in this country. In Edinburgh OF 81
children under II years Of age suffer-
ing from bone and joint tuberculosis
Al showed infection from cattle.
1t is evident that the only scource OF
bovine infection possible in young
child is milk. The general location OF
the disease in the digestive tract or
in the glands rated to this tract also
point to food as the source OF infec-
ton. Observations of the lower AMI
mails, especially hogs and calves, have
proved that the digestive tract is q
and easy route of infection,
and is in fact the chief route In these
cnimals under natural conditions. VI
the hogs, in which tuberculosis Is
found at government inspected
slaughter houses, approximately 90
Der cent. show infection Of the glands
If the upper digestive tract, and this
s the first inspection made by the Of
icers. There seems to be no reason to
uppose that human beings are eX- q
mpt from this mode infection. On
he contrary, we have many proofs o
hat infection of the tonsils and u
lands of the neck is only too fire. n
uent OF 1872 cases of tuberculosis OF u
ne tonsils, 115 or 60 per cent showed 81
lfection from bovine sources. In Ed III
lburgh, Scotland, Of 80 children I'M 81
er IL years Of age with tuberculosis pl
[ glands Of the neck, II proved to 81
ave been infected from bovine -
sources. pc
While the evidence at hand tends to
low that most cases Of tuberculosis 81
scome infected through the respira- Al
Try tract, there Is abundant proof "
at the digestive tract is frequently BE
70 route of entrance for the tubercu-
sis germ. In children, and especial DC
in those under years Of age. it is ih
,ssible TO exclude tn respiratory in te
ction with the bovine germ because %
lack OF exposure. We are forced to NC NC
o confusion that when children show 90
lection with the bovine germ, food uu
ust be the carrier of the germ. OF wv
foods, milk Is the most common al
10 for young children, and the one
ken in greatest abundance. w
It Is we'll known that tuberculosis al
IS increased greatly among the dairy io'
'rds Of the United States. II has not W
ZEN an infrequent experience to find ~
,rds infected to the extent Of rs per MI
mt. and often higher than this. The ~
ost infected herds are generally high 90
ass cattle, those bred for high milk
such herds as are found ~
tho dairy farms supplying our wv
rge cities. II has been estimated that w
Il less than 20 per cent OF our dairy ."
ws In the United States are tubre- uo