TUBERCULOSIS OF THE UDDER

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2338, 7 January 1926, Page 10

TUBERCULOSIS OF THE UDDER

[To tile Editor.] Sir, —j noticed an article by “Rustlcus” in your “Farmer’s” column some time ago on bovine tuberculosis. It was stated that this disease was not injurious to the milk un css it affected the udder. Could you tell me if it is feasible that a milking cow could oe affected with tuberculosis of the udder and the disease bo not detected? If the udder was so affect'd, would 'not the presence of the disease be indicated by the appearance of the organ or by the colour or quality of the mllk? i —R..T.S. Usually tuiierculosis infection of the udder may be distinguished from other uddei infections by its gradual onset and chronic course, as I as the fact that it rarely occasions the animal any pain or inconvenience. Tuberculosis of the udder usually commences well up in one or both real quarters of the udder. The organ itself becomes progressively hard and swollen, sometimes acquiring enormous size. Milk secretiop appears normal until th e infection has progressed considerably, when the milk becomes thin, watery, and scanty, and contains flaky and stringy material, and possibly blood and pus. This disease, however, may go on unrecognised for years; meanwhile th e animal goes on yielding milk containing tubercule bacilli, thus endangering the health of other stock as well as human lives. In cas e of mammltis, which is, at times, of tuberculosis origin, it is advisable to isolate the individual and have the tuberculin test applied at once. | There is no known cure for this! disease. In the diagnosis of tuber-) Culsosis of the udder, no single method is completely satisfactory. The tuberculin test may be relied upon to demonstrate the presence of the disease in the animal, out it is impossible by this means to locate the seat of the infection. If a physical examination of th e udder corroborates the tuberculin reaction, added significance may be attributed to tbe suspicion of udder tuberculosis. Finally, milk samples from suspected udders may be submitted to_ a bacteriological laboratory for examination.