TRANSMISSION OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. 215 



infants ; but though many children fed on such milk have died from 

 tuberculosis or a localized type of it in the bowels, known as tabes 

 mesenterica^ the part probably played by this liquid In its production 

 has rarely been suspected. 



He further observes, also, that, as the commencement of phthisis 

 is geueralh' so insidious in the human species, it is very difficult to 

 arrive with an}' degree of certainty at the causes which directly 

 induce or favor its development ; but, from the evidence before us, 

 it is to be feared that at least one of its sources must be referred 

 to the utilization of the carcass^ but more especially of the milk, 

 of phthisical cattle as food. It is certain that tuberculosis is not 

 uncommon and that it is a destructive disease among dairy cattle 

 especially, and more particularly those in towns ; that the udder of 

 these animals is one of the glands not unfrequentbj involved ; that 

 infants and adults consume milk in somewhat large quantities, — 

 and that phthisis is a very prevalent and fatal malady in the human 

 species, and chiefly among the dwellers in towns and cities. 



Dr. Bromley of Lancaster, England, found characteristic tuber- 

 cular lesion in the pulmonary organs of two pigs, which had been 

 fed with milk of a consumptive cow ; while the mother of the pigs, 

 on being slaughtered, exhibited no signs of the disease. And 

 therefore the pigs could not have contracted it by hereditary influ- 

 ence, but these morbid germs were taken in with the milk. Hence 

 the necessity of guarding ourselves against such a diseased article of 

 food when brought to our table. 



Prof. Gerlach, Dr. Toussaint, and many other veterinary patholo- 

 gists, have now demonstrated, by hundreds of positive experiments, 

 that this milk is infectious, and contains a specific germ that can be 

 transmitted from one species of animal to another, and from animal 

 to man, thus proving the identity of this dreaded bovine malady 

 with that in the human subject. 



SANITARY REGULATIONS. 



The increase and sudden invasions of disease among our stock 

 of late years should awaken new zeal in every farmer, and ad- 

 monish the whole people of the necessity of having a vigilant 

 inspector in every State, and authorized to act in every emergency. 

 His decision, as a pathologist, should be final under all existing 

 circumstances. The public must first be sensed. Its demands are 

 absolute, and in the well-being of the greatest number the rights of 



