The Farm.

Western Star, Issue 805, 29 December 1883, Page 5 (Supplement)

The Farm.

TUBERCULOSIS IN THE OX. This subject was proposed for discussion at the International Congress at Brussels, but owing to want of time was not considered. The reporters, Dr. Fleming, M. Lydten, and Van Hertsen, did their part of the work, and the Field gives the following summary. The report is an exhaustive history of bovine tuberculosis, from the earliest period of its literature to the present date. The question which was proposed for in- vestigation was thus stated: “What influence has heredity, and also contagion, in the production of tubercle, and what means should be had recourse to for the purpose of avoiding the noxious influence of the meat and milk of tuberculous animals?” At the commenc ement of the report the writers deal with the subject generally, and proceed to show that the disease was known, under other names, many years ago among cattle. An excellent description of the symptoms of bovine tuberculosis was published at Zurich in 1840, and runs thus: .“A short dry cough, particularly marked in the morning at the time of feeding, and after any violent movement. At the beginning of the disease the animals are often in good condition, and, if they are allowed a liberal regimen, they may acquire a certain degree of fatness. If the disease has made some progress, the animal becomes more and more emaciated, and the symptoms indicated serious disturbance of the nutritive functions. The pkin is rigid, and in parts which are least covered with hair, as on the perineum, it will be seen to be pale in colour. Generally the temperature of the body is below the normal standard. The eyes are sunken in the orbits owing to the absorption of the fatty cushions at the bottom of those cavities. More frequent cough is noticed, but seldom or never is the cough attended with any discharge, and, in spite of abundant diet, which may be eaten with good appetite, the sick animal becomes more and more emaciated.”

It may be added that tubercle may exist in the absence of the above symptoms, or, indeed, of any symptoms of disease at all. Tuberculosis occurs, the authors mark, in all parts where the os is known—in Bussia, in Norway and Sweden, in Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and France, in Spam and Portugal, in AustroHungary, in Greece, Italy, Algeria, in Australia, New Zealand, in the United States, and in Canada; and to this long list England may be added, as many of the most valuable herds in that country are tainted with the malady. Statistics on the subject of bovine tuberculosis are not easily obtained in countries like England, where animals are slaughtered in private slaughterhouses, which are not subject to constant supervision; but where the system of abattoirs is compulsory, and an inspector is always on the spot, some idea may be formed of the percentage of animals affected with the disease among those which are sent for slaughter, s obvious, however, that the worst cases of the malady would not be likely to find their way to the public slaughter-house, where their seizure would be inevitable. It has been found that of one thousand lattle slaughtered in the Grand Duchy of Baden, eight were subjects of tubercle; ana st‘ one thousand beasts which were condemned as unfit for consumption, four hundred and thirty were condemned on account of tuberculosis. In various parts of the kingdom tuberculosis is sufficiently common, but we have no record of the number of cases; nor, indeed, could any record be obtained without a complete change in our system of slaughtering. Bovine animals are not the only subjects ot the form of tubercle which is usually distinguished as bovine tuberculosis, wine are sometimes affected, and the characteristic deposit has been found in the serous membranes and in the pulmonary tissue, in the intestinal membrane,and in the lymphatic glands; in this latter form the disease is decribed as scrofula.

Xu the Grand Duchy of Baden during the period from 1874 to 1882, there were twenty-two swine out of 78,000 found to be affected with tubercle—a very small proportion of the total number slaughtered for food; but it is remarked that it cannot be fairly concluded that the number returned represents anything like the total of diseased animals, as only those ones which are fat and apparently in health would be sent for slaugnter those ; which were too bad to get fat would be killed clandestinely, some of them in extremis , and their flesh would generally be employed in the manufacture of sausages. Sheep are not susceptible to tuberculosis in any considerable degree, and there is much doubt as to the possibility of the existence of the disease in these animals. Coin and Zurn assert that, while the greater part of their inoculations have failed, they have, nevertheless, been able to induce the disease in sheep. Cases of tubercle in goats have come under the observation of Dr Carstem Harms, of Serlach, and of the writers of the report. Instances of the disease have also been met with in the horse, but only on rare occasions, and the animal cannot be included among the susceptible subjects. Babbits are undoubtedly susceptible to tijhercular disease, and succumb readily to inoculation with any of the morbid products. Among animals in which tubercle has been occasionally found may be mentioned dogs, cats, lions kept in captivity, kangaroos, and especially monkeys, in wliich for a long time past Uie disease has been detected by human and veterinary surgeons. Tne first question to which the reporters devoted themselves was,*‘ Whatinffuence has heredity in the propagation of tuberculosis ?” And then- conclusions on this point are thus stated : 1, Heredity has a decided influence in the propagation of tubercle. 2. Tne malady is transmitted by the male and also by the female parent to the jjf 'ine transmission of the morbific principle to the ovum, or to the fmtus m the course of development, is followed sterility, and frequently leads to abortion and premature birtns. . 4. The foetus infested with tuberculosis rarely comes into the world in a state of normal vitality, and, in any case, does not olten attain maturity. . Notwithstanding the above facts, i •;a|mot be denied that many descendants of tuberculous parents live and breeu exactly as do tne progeny of perfectly Wealthy animals, jta discussing the second question.

“What influence has contagion in propagation of tubercle ?” the reporters quote the views and experiments of numerous observers ; and it is evident that much difference of opinion exists. Generally the facts quoted are in favour of the idea that tubercle is a transmissible disease through the agency of morbid products, which may be carried into the system of another animal by way of the respiratory organs or through the digestive canal ; besides which, the direct introduction of tuberculous matter into the circulation has been proved to be capable of inducing the disease.

At one period in the history of medicine, the suggestion of the possible communication of consumption from a phthisical patient to a healthy person would have been ridiculed ; but the observation of the fact that nurses in constant attendance on consumptive persons became themselves victims to the disease had an important result in turning the attention of pathologists to the question, and the comparatively recent discovery of the bacillus of tubercle has made the explanation of the fact easy. In the course of their remarks, the reporters refer to many instances of the extension of tuberculosis in a herd in consequence of the accidental introduction of a diseased animal. In one instance a tuberculous cow stood next to a healthy animal near the time of calving. • The call was born to all apearance healthy, but at six weeks old gave evidence of being affected with tubercle, and soon afterwards succumbed, with all the signs of the disorder well developed. Gases are also related of two sucking pigs which were nourished on the milk of a tuberculous cow ; in three months they commenced to cough and in six months it was found necessary to kill them. On post mortem examination, the lesions of bovine tuberculosis were found to be well defined. From all the evidence before them the reporters conclude that tuberculosis is a disease which is capable of being communicated from one animal to another, by simple cohabitation, by inoculation, and by ingestion of morbid product; from animals to man by consumption of the tubercle infested tissue. And, lastly, it is asserted that phthisical patients may be the means of conveying tubercle to the lower animals who consume food contaminated with their excreta. —The Farmer and the Chamber of Agriculture Journal.

THE SHETLAND PONY. The native live stock of Shetland cannot generally be commended; but the wellknown pony of that part of the world is perfect of his kind. As carts would be out of place on the steep sides of the hills, ponies are kept by every family for the purpose of carrying peat for winter use. The fuel, after being dried, is placed in baskets called “ cassies,” one of which hangs on each side of the animal’s back—a strong, broad back, admirably adapted for the purpose of bearing heavy burdens. The pony of the Shetland Isles is iu fact the offspring of circumstances. He is the pet of the family, gentle as the Arab’s steed under similar training. He will follow his friends indoors like a dog and lick the platters or the children’s faces. He has no more kick in him than a cat and no more bite than a puppy. He is a noble example of the complete suppression of those vicious propensities that some of his kind exhibit when they are illtreated, and of the intelligence and good temper that may be developed in horses by kindness. There is no precedent for his running away, nor for his becoming frightened or tired when he has carried some stout laird from Lerwick to his house, many Scotch miles across the hills. He moves down the' rugged path with admirable circumspection, loaded pannier fashion with two heavy “ cassies ”of peat, picking his way step by step, sometimes sideways. In crossing boggy spots, where the water is retained and a green carpet of aquatic grass might deceive some steeds, and bring them headlong to grief in the spongy trap, he carefully smells the surface, and is thus enabled to circumvent the danger.— Forestry.