222 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



l)rc(l just before the cow died, that makes a great difference. I would 

 like to ask Secretary Gilbert if there are any calves now living that 

 were begotten there after this disease broke out in that herd? 



Sec. Gilbert. Not one; the last animal sold from the herd was 

 a year and a half before the disease appeared. 



Dr. Cressey. That is an important consideration. The disease 

 went rapidly Ihrough the herd. I would not hesitate to breed a cow 

 to one of those bulls that is now two or three years old, if the bull 

 doesn't show any signs of disease to-day. 



Question. Do you say it is not possible for a bull to transmit the 

 disease if he shows no signs of it himself? 



Dr. Cressey. I should not care to sa}' it is impossible, because 

 that would come within the line of heredity. If a bull is badly af- 

 fected with a cough, emaciated, growing poor, I should not want to 

 breed from him ; but if I saw no signs of disease in the bull, if he 

 chews his cud and looks healthy and bright, and can be run about 

 the yard rapidly without coughing, without any signs of disease, I 

 would as lief have him as the best thoroughbred bull in the 'Herd 

 Book. Tf 3'ou discard these animals because tuberculosis has since 

 prevailed in that herd at Orono, in order to be consistent you will 

 have to include a large number of animals from some of the best 

 thoroughbred stock in the State. 



Dr. Twitchell. The statement was made on the stand at Au- 

 gusta, b}' an expert, that a bull killed from the State College herd 

 was fouud, upon microscopic examination, to have tuberculous mat- 

 ter in the lungs, and that he was absolutely unsafe to breed from, 

 and that he would be sure to transmit tuberculosis to his progeny. 



Dr. Cressey. If he could not see anj- disease without the micro- 

 scope, it must have been miliar}- tubercle, and that is drawing things 

 pretty fine. The danger of transmitting this disease by heredity is 

 exaggerated. Should we dare to say that an apparently health}' 

 young man and woman shall not be allowed to marry because some 

 of their ancestors have died from tubercular consumption? Should 

 we have a law by which a woman could get divorced from her husband 

 if she discovers, by searching out his genealogy, that his great grand- 

 father died of consumption ? It is this exaggeration and excitement, 

 these sensational and extreme statements, that are doing the great- 

 est harm in this State. 



Question. Is there no practical way by which milk can be tested, 

 so that we mav know whether it is safe to use? 



