No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUIIE. 105 



to do, to learn fi'om the experience of other nations; the scliools must 

 have (ailed to teach history as they should have done. As Benjamin 

 Fiaukiiii says: 'Experience keeps a dear school; but fools will learn 

 in no other, and scarce iu that.' " 



''The nations of Europe have made the mistake of doing nothing 

 to repress tuberculosis until it has gained a vast distribution and is 

 causing frightful losses. Now the problem is staggering in its im- 

 mensity. The task of repression would have been easy a generation 

 ago — now it is great enough to embarrass the strongest government. 

 It is eating into the cattle industry of Germany as a cancer, it is dis- 

 tressing live stock owners and may be classed as an important cause 

 of agricultural depression. Renneberger estimated that tlie losses 

 from tuberculosis of cattle amount in Germany to 9(),()0(),()0l) marks a 

 year, and Wilson estimates the English losses at 3,()0i),0()0 pounds 

 sterling a vear. And this is the disease that certain writers state is 

 of no importance and requires no special attention! Such persons 

 attempt to deny facts that are as plain as any in history. 



"Why should we not learn by observing the errors and misfortusies 

 of our fellow nations? If the wagon in front of yours becomes stalled 

 in the mud, why not avoid the hole instead of finding out by bitter 

 experience that it is quite as difficult and deep for your own wagon? 



"Tuberculosis has a good start among the cattle of many parts of 

 this country. If one fact is clear iu regard to this disease it is that 

 its tendency is to spread, and it has spread and is spreading in every 

 part of the world contaminated by it, including our own, with the ex- 

 ception of a few localities where active repressive measures are in 

 operation. But, some say, this is due to the "artificiaT' way in which 

 cattle are kept or to bad stables. This opinion again shows lack of 

 knowledge of facts in relation to the clear history of this disease. It 

 is reported on the best authority that tuberculosis is becoming more 

 prevalent among the cattle always out of doors in the generally 

 healthy climates of New Zealand, Queensland and the Argentine Re- 

 public. Unquestionable instances have been recorded wherein tuber- 

 culosis has gained extensive prevalence in unstabled herds in Iowa, 

 Montana and British Columbia. 



"In order to test this question and to ascertain the influence of 

 ordinary and the best stabling conditions on the spread of tubercu- 

 losis in two infected herds, and to determine whether any stabling 

 conditions, accompanied by the most scrupulous care, could be de- 

 pended upon to prevent the spread of tuberculosis among cattle, the 

 following experiment was conducted under the auspices of the Penn- 

 sylvania State Live Stock Sanitary Board. 



"Two stables were erected, each containing six stalls. One stable 

 was large, ligh.t, well ventilated, and so constructed that it could 

 be kept scrupulously clean. The floor and mangers were of cement, 

 8 



