130 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Oft. I>oc. 



When these lieifers calved and were placed in the milking herd, it 

 was observed that some of them were unthrifty and a cow in con- 

 tact with one of them developed a cough, was tested and found to 

 be tubercular and was killed. After this, the entire herd was tested. 

 It was found that the disease was confined to the parts of the prem- 

 ises occupied M- the exposed heifers and to animals in stalls imme- 

 diately adjacent to the heifers that were infected, or in the next 

 stall. The source of the disease that was brought into this herd was 

 clear, and the manner in which it was spreading was clearly shown. 

 In this case, the loss of the herd, or of a large part of it, was pre- 

 vented by testing the herd with tuberculin before it was too late. If 

 it had been known, at the time, that the heifers had been exposed to 

 infection, and if thev had been tested and those that were tubercular 

 had been eliminated before this lot of animals was added to the 

 general herd, a greater saving would have been effected. 



While there is no systematic or periodical inspection of all herds 

 in the State and, therefore, no figures can be given to show the 

 exact prevalence of tuberculosis at different times, there are, never- 

 theless, convincing facts to 'show that tuberculosis of cattle is 

 decidedly less prevalent in Pennsylvania than it was a few years 

 ago. People who are in close touch with the cattle industry of the 

 ►Srate and who are in position to know, in a general way, the extent 

 to which tuberculosis prevails among the cattle in certain sections 

 testify, almost unanimously, that there is a marked diminution in 

 the prevalence of this disease. Perhaps the most striking evidence 

 on this point is that furnished by the chief meat inspector of Phila- 

 delphia, Dr. A. F. Schreiber. Dr. Schreiber's experience in this 

 office covers a period of about twelve years. He has been familiar 

 all of this time with the number of tubercular cattle found among 

 those coming from the eastern part of the State to Philadelphia to 

 be slaughtered. His evidence, supported by that of other meat in- 

 spectors, slaughterers of cattle and commission men, is to the effect 

 that the j)revalence of tuberculosis among dairy cows in Pennsyl- 

 vania coming to Philadelphia to be slaughtered, has been reduced 

 at least 50 per cent. It is the experience of veterinarians through- 

 out nearly all sections of the State that, for several years, losses 

 from tuberculosis have been steadily diminishing, but still these 

 losses are very great, and they have not diminished as much in 

 some parts of the State as in others. The diminution has been 

 greatest in those sections where the owners of cattle have taken 

 the matter firmly in hand and have co-operated intelligently with 

 the State Live Stock Sanitary Board. Co-operation of this sort is 

 most active and effective in those districts in whirli tuberculosis 

 of cattle is best understood, and where the greatest amount of work 

 has already been done by the State Live Stock Sanitary Board. 



