DAIRY MEETING. 10/ 



terea and carefully examined. Of the 60 animals tested, 49 

 reacted and 11 failed to react. Tuberculosis lesions were found 

 in 48 of the animals which reacted. Five animals which did not 

 react were also found to be diseased. One of these had a high 

 temperature (103.6 degrees F.) the day before the test, and this 

 animal had extensive tuberculosis. The disease had been recog- 

 nized in this animal from external appearance, and it had been 

 isolated from the herd from 15 to 18 months. Three other 

 animals which did not react were in all probability stationary 

 cases of disease ; the nodules were small and largely calcareous. 

 In the remaining animal which failed to react the lesions were 

 also small and apparently confined to the glands. 



In 1897 Voges compiled statistics of tuberculin tests, the 

 accuracy of which had been determined by post-mortem exami- 

 nation. Of 7.327 animals tested, it appeared that errors had 

 been made with 204, or 2.78 per cent. In the work of the 

 Pennsylvania Live Stock Sanitary Board post-mortem examina- 

 tions were made on about 4,400 reacting cattle, and the disease 

 was found in all but 8 of those which had given characteristic 

 reactions. 



The results of a much larger number of tests might be com- 

 piled at this time, but they would not materially change the aver- 

 age of those already mentioned. It is plain that tuberculin is a 

 remarkably accurate test of tuberculosis ; that the animals which 

 react may be safely considered as tuberculous, and that when 

 a careful clinical examination is practiced in addition to the 

 test, there are few animals in a dangerous condition which es- 

 cape detection. 



The first questions asked by those who oppose the adoption of 

 the tuberculin test are, Is this test infallible? and. If it is not 

 infallible, why should it be forced upon the cattle owners of the 

 country ? 



In answer to these questions it may be said that tuberculin is 

 not absolutely infallible, and yet it is by far the best method of 

 diagnosing tuberculosis that has been discovered. 



Practically all the animals which react are affected with tuber- 

 culosis and should be separated from the herd, not only in the 

 interest of the public but in the interest of the owner of the 

 herd. The best authorities admit, after studying many thou- 

 sands of tests, that there are few if any mistakes made in con- 

 demning cattle which show a typical tuberculin reaction. The 



