BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 223 



THE PREVENTION OF TUBERCULOSIS. 



Since tlie discovery of the diagnostic value of tuberculin in bovine 

 tuberculosis in 1891, there have been many official tests made in the 

 United States to ascertain the extent to which the disease exists, and 

 to diminish the number of affected animals. While numerous herds 

 have been found diseased to a remarkable and even alarming extent, 

 the consensus of opinion is that, considering all the cattle in a State, 

 not over 5 per cent of the animals would react to the test even in our 

 dairy sections and not half of 1 per cent of the cattle killed under 

 the Bureau inspection is found tuberculous. In certain districts, 

 however, the disease is much more frequent, and the astonishing 

 degree to which it may develop in a herd before its presence is dis- 

 covered by the owner and much less by others has led to a demand 

 for investigation and for repressive measures. 



A considerable number of States have laws and regulations made 

 for the purpose of preventing the introduction of tuberculous cattle 

 from other States or foreign countries. While these differ much in 

 detail, the general plan is to require that cattle introduced for breed- 

 ing or daily purposes be tested with tuberculin and their healthful- 

 ness certified bj* the authorities of the States from which they origi- 

 nate, or, failing in this, by the authorities of the State where they are 

 destined to remain. The weak points in this system are, first, that 

 many States from which cattle are shipped have no officials to make 

 the tests and none with authoritj^ to issue certificates; second, that 

 very few of the receiving States have a sufficient veterinary force to 

 make the required tests; and, third, that the numerous and varied 

 requirements of the several States are confusing to shippers, difficult 

 to comply with, and a serious burden to interstate commerce. The 

 situation is not unlike that which existed fifteen years ago, when 

 nearly every State had a quarantine against the cattle of every other 

 State to guard against the introduction of contagious pleuro- 

 pneumonia. 



This Bureau has endeavored to assist the individual States in guard- 

 ing against infection from other States and from foreign countries, as 

 contemplated by its organic act. Notice has been given that it is a 

 violation of the federal statutes to ship animals affected with tuber- 

 culosis from one State to another. Cattle imported from Canada for 

 breeding or dairy purposes are required to be accompanied by a cer- 

 tificate of healthf uluess shown by a tuberculin test made by an official 

 veterinary surgeon, while those from other countries which i)ass through 

 the quarantine stations are tested during the period of detention. 



The certificates of tests made in the country of origin have frequently 

 been unsatisfactory, and it has been determined to make immediate 

 arrangements to have imported cattle tested bj" officials of this Gov- 

 ernment. It is thought that the cattle from Great Britain may be tested 

 before they leave that country, and the importers thus saved from the 

 loss which is inevitable if thej^ are tested here. 



The effort to control tuberculosis is a most reasonable and proper 

 one, and if conservatively directed should receive the support of every 

 friend of the cattle industry. Not only is tuberculosis one of the worst 

 scourges of the bovine race, attacking as high as 90 per cent of the 

 animals in individual herds, but its existence is believed bj' the best 

 sanitary authorities to be a serious menace to the health of the con- 

 sumers of meat and dairy products. It is therefore a disease to be 

 dreaded, not only because of the value of the cattle which it injures 



