TUBERCULOSIS IN COWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 74, 24 December 1880, Page 4

TUBERCULOSIS IN COWS.

Dr. Heath, president of the Araeri<an Fujmerji'jSlttJy, read a^ery important paper before that society on the subject of "tuberculosis in domestic animate, -and * tome of its effects on

iiuinati health. He says that this disee&e prevails extensively among such animals all over the world, and especially in populous and crowded localities. Cows which are kept shut up in* close, foul air, as is the case with large numbers in and about London, are very liable to it. He says that observations in Mexico led to the conclusion that 34 per cent, of all beasts slaughtered there showed them to be more or less affected with this disease, and he is of opinion that 50 per cent, of the cows kept in large ,towns are thus diseased. The fact that this is not more generally recognised is, of course, owing to the animals being slaughtered before the disorder has attained any very noticeable development. According to Dr Heath, if cows, like human beings, were allowed to die from natural causes, the proportion succumbing to tuberculosis would be quite as great, and probably much greater. Not only is the milk of tuberculosis cows very poor in quality, but it seems to have been sufficiently demonstrated to be capable of imparting the disease to those who drink it uncooked. Klebs, Garlach, and other authorities have put the matter to test by giving the milk of diseased cows to rabbits, guinea pigs, and dogs, with the result of developing tubercles in them. What has been done with the inferior animals may undoubtedly be done in the case of young children, 2arge numbers of i whom, it is believed, contract this dire disorder from the milk with which they are supplied. The flesh of affected animals would be equally pernicious but that it is cooked, and those "who are compelled to use milk from doubtful sources would do well to scald it before doing so, more especially during warm weather, when, as past experience has demonstrated, phthisis is not the only evil that may be lurking in the milk-can,