NOT AN INFALLIBLE TEST

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 8 June 1912, Page 16 (Supplement)

NOT AN INFALLIBLE TEST

Tiie breeder and dairyman has often been led to beiieve that the tubereuiii. test is an infallible means by which ho can detect the presence of the disease in new herds; that by its use he can remove every tubercular animal from the nerd and no heaithy animal. Experience (says Professor Hastings) ha.s shown otherwise. A frequent experience has been somewhat as follows A iierd of cattle was tested, and a con siderabie number of the animals were la ana to be diseased. These were removed, tiie stables were thoroughly dis infected, and a re-test made witniu tnree to six months, at which time but one or two animals nrigat react to tne test. Another test was made a yea) tUereaiter, and possibly a considerable number of reacting animals was tnen found. At another test a year later, tuberculosis might still be found to be present in the herd, in many cases tne tanner became discouraged because oi such results. He feit tnat it was im-i possible to free his herd from this disease, and he abandoned the idea of ever being able to obtain a healthy herd from the diseased foundation. In the past the blame for such remits has been laid on inefficient testing or on faulty barn disinfection. Auotiw experience w/.ich has been frequently brought to the attention of the sanitary authorities has been that a herd was tested the reacting animals all removed, and soon thereafter, for some reason or other one of the supposed all-healthy animals was killed and on examination found to be tubercular. This again has caused a certain distrust of the tuberculin test. Again, cattle have been removed from herds on account of having reacted to the tuberculin test", and on slaughter the lesions of the disease have not been found in their bodies lhese things indicate that the tuberculin test has certain limitations which should- be recognised by everyone who is using the test. If these limitations are recognised, all w ill be better satisfied than when the test is considered to have no limitations.