Tuberculosis in Cattle. 17 



ful manipulation in almost every case, and, in case of no bacillus 

 being found, is no guarantee of the absence of the disease. 



Inocidatiojis with the suspected discharges, secretions or tis- 

 tues, demand a delay of one or two months before one can pro- 

 nounce upon the result, and that result if negative, gives no as- 

 surance that the animal is free from tuberculosis but onl}^ that 

 the material inoculated did not contain the germ. 



THE TUBERCULIN TEST. 



Much has been said and written against the tuberculin test by 

 those who have never used it, and who are therefore utterly in- 

 competent either to endorse or condemn it, but for those who aim 

 at the prompt and thorough eradication of the infection from a 

 herd, and at the securing at once of a guarantee of progeny, 

 beef and dairy products, no resort can, as regards its efhcacy, be 

 at all compared with the tuberculin test. 



Tiiberadin is a sterile solution of the products of the artificial 

 culture of the tubercle bacillus. In its preparation it has been 

 treated to a boiling temperature which is as fatal to a tubercle 

 bacillus in liquid medium as it is to a hen's ^%%. But this is not all, 

 even the dead bacilli have been separated from the liquid by passing 

 it through a porcelain filter. The remaining liquid (tuberculin) 

 is absolutely sterile and can plant and propagate neither the 

 tubercle bacillus nor any other living thing. It can poison if 

 given in excessive doses, as alcohol can poison, but it can no 

 more produce the germ of tubercle where that does not exist 

 than can distilled alcohol plant the yeast germ and start a new 

 vinous fermentation. The insane fear of tuberculin is the 

 fruit of an ignorance of its true nature and of a blind prejudice 

 which withholds its victim from informing himself on the 

 subject. 



As we produce tuberculin in the bacteriological laboratory of 

 the N. Y. S. Veterinary College, and distribute it free, for use 

 by approved parties in this state, we can speak with confidence 

 of the absolute harmlessness of the agent when intelligently 

 employed. We aim at securing no profit in making this agent, 

 but charge only for packing and shipping. We have therefore 

 no interest in its manufacture, for on the contrary the greater 



