128 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



It was surprising to note that in all countries the "tuberculin 

 test" was recognized and its value and efficiency was beyond 

 question, in diagnosing tuberculosis. Different laws and regu- 

 lations change the method of handling reacting animals some- 

 what, yet upon the whole the principle upon which the policy 

 is founded is practically the same as in this country, with the 

 exception of Denmark. I wish to call your attention to this 

 particular method, as there are some dairymen and breeders in 

 this State that favor this method and have complained to the 

 commissioners from time to time that they were destroying too 

 many cattle by the policy of our State in controlling tuber- 

 culosis. While there is no law in Maine compelling breeders 

 to use or apply this "Bang method," there is also no law against 

 it, or against anyone practicing it if he sees fit. If people would 

 rather have the cattle destroyed the commissioners destroy them. 



The "Bang method" so called, of controlling tuberculosis, is 

 well advertised all over the world ; but I do not understand 

 that it is practically and successfully carried out except in Den- 

 mark, unless in a very limited way, experimentally, in Pennsyl- 

 vania and New York. Denmark is Professor Bang's native 

 country and he remarked at the meeting that he could not under- 

 stand why his method was not meeting with better success in 

 the United States. 



He claimed that from an economic standpoint his method 

 was the best, and I am inclined to think that if one has the 

 patience and the thoroughness, and will go to the expense, and 

 adhere strictly to the principles laid down to work by, it is the 

 most economic method now in practice in countries and states 

 where meager appropriations are made by the government for 

 compensation for cattle found diseased. In Denmark, only 

 cows that are diseased in the udder are paid for, which is 

 claimed by Prof. Bang to be only one per cent of the diseased 

 cattle. The cow population of Denmark is placed by him at 

 about 1,000,000. 



Cattle are tested the same as in IMaine, and all cattle that 

 show physical signs of the disease are destroyed (including 

 about one-third of the reacting animals), and when not too bad, 

 or in other words, when they will pass the "meat inspector," 

 they are marked "tuberculous meat" and sold for what they will 



