Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1930-01-16

quite reach the 1870 OF caLtle neceS"-
sary, with IL townships each signing
up more than was required. The
county committee and township
chairmen in charge of the work wish
tion carriers for the rapidity with
which they went after this important
job and completed it successfully.
A meeting was arranged with the
commissioners for January is, at
which time DR.. Hyde, assistant state
veterinarian was to meet with them
and estimate cost of the testing, and
ascertain how much the county would
be able to assist in the work.
Relative to the reliability of the
tuberculin test, and as to the abso-
lutte harmlessness of the tuberculin
upon cattle in any way, shape o.
manner other than to determine the
presence or absence of the disease,
cattle owners are asked to read the
statement by Dr. John r. Mohler,
chief of the bureau of animal indus
try, U. S. department of agriculture,
Washington. D. c., which follows:
Tuberculin Is Harmless
Tuberculin is a product prepared
by sterilizing, filtering, and concen-
trating the liquid upon which tu-
bercle bacilli have been allowed to
grow 1t was first made by the
great scientist, Robert Koch, who
found, in 1890, that it caused rise
in temperature when injected into
the tissues of tuberculous animal,
but that it had no effect upon ami
mails free from tuberculosis. Tu-
berculin contains the sterile product
tof the growth of the germs, but not
the germs themselves, and when
properly used it can have no possi-
BILE injurious effect. Furthermore,
the tuberculin that is commonly US
ed in testing livestock in the United
States is made under government su-
pervision. which assures it's purity
and potency.
Although tuberculin is the means
by which symptoms of tuberculosis
may be observed in animals, an ac-
curate diagnosis depends likewise
upon ability to observe and interpret
the results of the test. The depart
ment Of agriculture requires that the
official testing of livestock for til
berculosis be performed by trained
veterinarians who have demonstrate
ed their ability to make the test
properly. OF the three official meth
DDS of tuberculin testing-the sub
cutaneous, intradermic, and oph-
thalmic-the one most commonly
used is the intradermic by reason of
it's greater suitability for testing un-
der farm and ranch conditions. In
the intradermic test, the tuberculin
is injected into the skin and the re-
action, in the case Of diseased ami
NAL, consists of a swelling at point
of injection
Retesting Shows Method Efficient
| The resultsaobtaine thus far in
the systematic tube1culin testing
show effectiveness of this valuable
means for detecting tuberculous ami
mails. During the last q years more
than 1a million tuberculous cattle
have been removed from herds in
the United States. AS result Of
this work, more than 10000 herds
are now established as fully accredit
ed, and more than 100000 ad
ditional herds, including those test
ed in area work, have been freed O
tuberculosis. Even in badly infect
ed herds, continued testing has de
tected the tuberculous animals, anc
in a few years has established such
herds on sound, tuberculosis-free
basis. A survey covering "a,
herds, containing $1,000 cattle
move most of the reactors. In more
than 81 per cent of the herds, the
greatest number of tests needed to
indicate freedom from the disease
was four. Continued testing is ad-
vised as a precautionary measure
The same method has eradicated
| bovine tuberculosis from large areas
resulting in the establishment OF
nearly 700 counties, incluing one en-
/ tire state-North Carolina-as mod
| flied accredited areas. Results OF
retesting in over 100 such areas in
dicate a high degree of testing eff
! cheney.
Additional data relative to the ac-
curacy of the test have been obtain
ed by the slaughter of entire lots of
cattle, first subjected to the tuber-
culin test, and also, by investiga-
tions since the inception of the CO.
operative plan, which covered the
| testing of more than 100000 cat
tie by the various methods. More
than 55,000,00O tests have been ap-
piled since 1917, from which it will
be realized that full opportunity for
knowledge and experience has been
afforded.
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