98 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



March 28, 1914. 



infection to cattle. In cow manure, the germ can also 

 survive long periods. Pure cultures of bovine tubercle 

 have been mixed in cow manure and exposed in 

 a 2-inch layer in a pasture tield in the sunshine, and 

 have been found to remain alive and virulent for two 

 months. These facts show how necessary it is to 

 destroy infested material. 



But from the point of view of human tuberculosis, 

 it is milk that constitutes the most dangerous medium 

 of transmission. In the first place milk provides an 

 ideal cultural medium for reproduction, whilst in the 

 second place it is particularly liable to infection even 

 if it may have been derived originally from a healthy 

 animal. A contaminated water-supply in a place 

 where adulteration is practised provides one source of 

 infection; then, again, uncleanly methods in the opera- 

 -bion of milking may also allow the germs to enter. 

 A very dangerous and insidious means of infection is 

 often involved in the mixing of milk in a herd of 

 •cows. One tuberculous animal may under these 

 conditions be the means of virtually making every 

 cow a source of infected material. 



But no matter how much care be taken to destroy 

 infected material and to prevent the contamination of 

 milk, the real root of the evil lies in the existence of the 

 ■diseased animal itself. 



The means of eliminating tuberculosis from 

 a herd are easier framed than put into operation. 

 This is particularly true of the West Indies. Refer- 

 ence has from time to time been made in this journal 

 to Bang's system of tuberculosis eradication, which 

 •consists in principle, in dividing the stock into two 

 herds: those which react to the tuberculin test, and 

 those which do not react. The two herds are kept 

 separate, and of the reactors, as soon as any show 

 clinical symptoms, as for example extreme emacia- 

 tion, they are got rid of. In Denmark, societies 

 known as tuberculin unions have been formed, all the 

 members of which agree to conform to Bang's system 

 ■on their respective farms. It is apparent that this 

 not only leads to an improvement in the condition of 

 the various herds, but also protects the market and 

 •consequently the consumer. 



In England, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries 

 passed in 1913 a Tuberculosis Order many of the pro- 

 -visions of which may be applicable under West Indian 

 •conditions, and it is proposed to describe the provisions 

 of this order at some length. Every person having in 

 his possession or under his charge a cow which is or 

 ■appears to be suffering from tuberculosis of the udder, 



indurated udder, or other chronic disease of the same 

 organ, or having any bovine animal which is, or appears 

 to be, suffering from tuberculosis with emaciation, 

 must notify the same to the police. .Similarly veterin- 

 ary surgeons must give notice of the existence of any 

 animals exhibiting the above symptoms that they may 

 be called to examine in the course of private practice. 

 For doing this a small fee is paid. The Order provides 

 further for the inspection of suspected animals. 

 Should an animal be discovered giving tuberculous milk, 

 or suffering from tuberculosis with emaciation, it 

 must by law be slaughtered, though if the value of the 

 animal is above £30, the direct sanction of the Board of 

 Agi'iculture is necessary as well as that of the Local 

 Authority. Provision is made for valuation for com- 

 pensation. The amount of compensation which is paid 

 by the Government depends upon the extent to which 

 the animal was suffering from tuberculosis as demon- 

 strated by a post-morcem examination. Should the 

 post-mortem show that the animal was not suffering 

 from tuberculosis, a sum equal to the value of the 

 animal as agreed to in the valuation for compensation 

 must be paid, and a further sum of twenty shillings. 

 If the animal is found to be suffering from tuberculosis, 

 but not advanced tuberculosis, the Local Authority 

 shall give a sum equal to three-fourths of the value of 

 the animal after deducting one-half of the costs of 

 valuation; but if the animal is shown to have been 

 suffering from the advanced stage of the disease, only 

 one-fourth of the value of the animal is paid, deducting 

 from such sum one-half of the costs of valuation and 

 examination. 



The Order, the principal provisions of which have 

 just been outlined, concludes with a number of restric- 

 tions in regard to the handling of milk, the detention 

 and isolation of suspected animals, and cleansing and 

 disinfection. In these sections the proper measures 

 for the prevention of transmission, as outlined at the 

 commencement of this article, are enforced. In con- 

 clusion, it would appear that the Order embraces in 

 a practical manner all the principal measures for the 

 control of tuberculosis, and the adoption of the same, 

 possibly with slight modifications, would appear to be 

 desirable in most of the West Indian islands 

 where a Veterinary Surgeon is available. It would 

 not be sulHcient to confine the operation of the legisla- 

 tion to the towns but to extend the operation 

 throughout the Colony, and it is hardly necessary to add 

 that at the same time that the legislation was enacted, 

 it would be expedient to make proper provision for 

 ensuring its thorough execution. 



