TESTING A HERD FOR TUBERCULOSIS.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXX, Issue 1514, 17 May 1898, Page 7

TESTING A HERD FOR TUBERCULOSIS.

ByH. P. Milleb, in "Ohio Farmer." The tuberculin test for tuberculosis is rapidly gaining favour. It is recognised by Dr. Salmon, of the Bureau of Animal Industry. Washington, as a reliable test ; indeed, the tuberculin is prepared under his direction and sent out free to all applicants who will use it according to directions, keep careful records, and report. I recently assisted in testing a herd of 32. This disease in cattle is identical with consumption in the human family, and is transmissible from man to cattle, and vice versa-. The test is based upon the knowledge that the disease is produced by a bacterium, or more exactly by millions of them, and the theory that they produce disease by developing aj poisonous substance in the system. * Tuberculin is simply a beef broth solu-| tion of this bacterial toxine, got by growing the bacilli in beef broth and straining out the bacilli through a porcelain dish. It was found that the introduction of a small amount of this into the circulation of a tuberculous cow induced fever. A rise of 2deg. is considered indicative of the disease. It il not infallible, but reasonably sure. The instruments needed are a hypodermic syringe and a thermometer for each ten cows, with an extra one or two to replace broken ones. The first day one man to each 20. cows, and one to keep the record are required. The second day it will require a man to each ten cows to take temperatures. It requires accuracy, but no especial skill. Temperatures have to be taken from 6 in the morning until 12 in the evening each day. Only tested thermometers should be used. Great care is needed to have the mercury well shaken down after each reading. In the herd referred, to, three reacted enough to condemn them, although there was no outward sign of the disease whatever. One, a pure-bred Shorthorn, of middle age, gave an average temperature from seven readings of lOldeg. before the injection. After the injection an average from fifteen readings of 103-33, with a maximum of 1054. The second was a crofs-bred Shorthorn in good flesh. With the same number of readings before injection, she gave an average temperament of lOl'Sdeg., afterward an average of 104*ldeg., with a maximum of 105 4deg. The third was a pure Shorthorn heifer, 18 months old. She gave an average the first day of 1014deg. ; after the injection, an average of 1072deg. This was an exceptional case, as it is very rare that cattle under two years of age show any lesion of the disease. All these animals were killed. To the unsuspecting nothing was apparent; indeed, the man who did the work, although an experienced butcher, pronounced them perfectly sound. But when the lymphatic glands were sought out and opened the evidences of the dis. ease were apparent beyond any doubt. Doubtless someone will ask whether there is not danger of inducing the disease in healthy cows by injecting the same poison that causes the disease. It certainly is quite a natural question to ask. There is not the least danger, however, as the germ is not introduced, and the small amount of the poison, only 30 drops, can do no harm ; indeed, there are facts upon which to base belief that repeated injections of increasing amounts will produce immunity from tha disease. I hope the day is near at hand when every cow will be tested, not only once, but repeated often enough to make sure tb.it no badly infected cows are retained in the dairy. It will be as much to the financial advantage of the owneiß as for the safety of those who use the milk. Farmers ought not to look upon the test as a hardship imposed upon them; indeed, they ought to look upon it as of great advantage, for who should want to retain a tuberculous cow, a constant source of infection for all the herd, not to mention his family 1 There is no more deadly disease than tuberculosis. The reason we do not fear it more is because it is so slow in developing. It is one of the diseases about which people need more education. J FREEZING, FUSING, & BOILING POINTS. The following table will explain itself, and will be valuable to many of our readers: —

Substances. | 0 a ci P3. c cS a ■J '33 0 <o 1 M Beg. Deg. Deg. Bromine freezes at ... 16 20 4 Oil, anise „ 8 10 50 Oil, olive „ 8 10 60 Oil, rose „ 12 15 60 Quicksilver ,, 315 39 4 33 Water „ 1 0 32 Bismuth metal fuses at 200 264 476 Cadmium „ ... 2488 315 592 Copper „ — 874-6 1093 2000 Gold ,i — 961 1200 2200 Iodine „ ... 92 115 239 Iron i, ... 1230 1538 2800 Lead », ••• 2555 325 617 Potassium ,, • •• 46 58 136 Phosphorus „ ... Silver „ ••• 34 8168 44 1021 111 1870 Silver, nitrate „ ... Sodium „ • •• 159 72 193 90 389 194 Steel » ••• 1452 1856 3300 Sulphur » ••• Tin »> ••■ 72 173 90 230 194 442 Zinc » ••• 328 410 700 Ether, nitrous, boils at Alcohol i) ••• 11 63 14 78 57 173 Bromine •> — 50 63 145 Ether » ••• 28 35 95 Iodine » ••• 140 175 347 Olive Oil H — 252 315 600 Quicksilver » — 280 350 662 Water m «« 80 1QO SI*