THE TUBERCULIN TEST.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume V, Issue 515, 28 June 1897, Page 4

THE TUBERCULIN TEST.

l-’roin the first, there have been disbelievers m tho value of the tuberculin test as a means of detecting the presence of the disease of tuberculosis in cattle, and every now and again some circumstance crops up which furnishes good grounds this disbelief. An instance of this sort occurred lately in Europe, the particulars of which I ( 4 ‘ Bruni ’ in The Australasian) learn from the Live Stock Journal." At the present time the German Government imposes quarantine of toil days on all cattle imported from Denmark, i In addition to this quarantine, the : cattle have to he injeoteil with tuberculin, and all which react to the test have to be slaughtered within five days. A correspondent of the journal named gives tho following account of tho result of the treatment of a late importation. lie says: — 4 ‘ On March 8, at Hamburg, 1891 head of Danish cattle were, according to this regulation, injected, and of (his number 078 reacted and wire declared to he suffering from tuberculosis. These were accordingly slaughtered, anil, after the voterinary examination, it was found that 19 were tuberculous, and were forthwith destroyed ; 002 were allowed to he sold as food, being slightly affected, and 57 were declared to be entirely free from the disease. It is remarkable, as the veterinary report says, that the best shorthorn cross-bred oxen and bulls reacted, whereas the old cows and young cattle did not. The report goes on to say that, among the cattle which wero injected and did not react, three animals were discovered to he affected with the disease, one of them so badly that the carcase had to be destroyed.” After such an experience as this it is not surprising that cattle owners should regard tuberculin us an unreliable test. It is believed by veterinarians that about 90 per cent of tho tests are correct.