The Question Box. 137 



24 cows which had been tested with tuberculin and condemned, 

 but the post-mortem failed to find a tubercle. It is wholly un- 

 reliable and in the near future will have to go. 



The consumption of milk in New York city has more than 

 doubled during* the last 10 years, yet the death rate from eon- 

 sumption has decreased 7 per cent., while the number of inhabi- 

 tants have increased nearly 1,000,000. The same increase in pro- 

 portion of inhabitants and the consumption of milk is recorded in 

 other cities of the State, and the same decrease of death by con- 

 sumption, showing that this tuberculosis talk is a humbug, gotten 

 up by a few men who want a pull. 



Mr. Stevens. — The honest farmers in this State ought to rise 

 up and condemn this, the greatest humbug ever sprung on them. 

 Massachusetts has refused an appropriation for continuing the test, 

 having found it wholly unreliable. 



[The New York law as it now stands should be perfectly satis- 

 factory to farmers, having" been revised during session of the 

 Legislature, 1900-01.] 



Question. — Do young pigs have tuberculosis, and what are 

 the symptoms of hog cholera ? 



Dr. Smead. — Possibly they may have tuberculosis, but, as a 

 rule, they have rheumatism. There are but few cases of hog 

 cholera. Kheumatism is caused by dampness or improper feeding. 

 If you hear that your neighbor's hogs have cholera, don't go near 

 them, for you may carry the germs of the disease in your clothing 

 or on your boots. It is caused by a germ, as is smallpox or other 

 contagious diseases which afflict the human family. 



Question. — Is tuberculosis among cattle on the increase? 



Dr. Smead. — No. Tuberculosis, both in mankind and animals 

 has been on the decrease during the last 25 years. People are 

 learning to better clothe, better feed and better care for them- 

 selves. They are also learning to belter care for and better feed 

 their animals. Sunlight, pure air, good food and cleanliness will 

 kill tuberculous germs. The disease is growing less everywhere. 



A Fanner. — If that is so, how do you account for its appear- 

 ance in Governor Morton's herd? 



Dr. Smead. — Well, oftentimes things are overdone, and, as a 

 rule, they are overdone in this tuberculosis business. Governor 

 Morton's cows had the disease, but a number of them had it in a 

 harmless way. Many tubercles were incysted and would never 

 have done any harm; and I am going to say that, in my belief, there 

 is not a man here but has tubercle.-, present somewhere in his sys- 



