104 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



by investigators, but the method of application and treatment is still a 

 matter of mystery. Effort is made in several i)laces by competent workers 

 to discover a practical immunizing or curative substance manufactured 

 by the tubercle bacilli in the process of their growth; and judging from 

 what has been done, we are anticipating a probable solution in the fu- 

 ture. 



So much stress has been placed upon hygienic treatment and so much 

 good has resulted, that we feel assured in making an attempt to benefit 

 and completely cure a part of the cattle condemned by giving strict 

 attention to their hygienic surroundings. All of the cattle are under 

 hygienic treatment. Experiments, if they may be so called, are under 

 way to ascertain the per cent of calves from tuberculous cows succumb- 

 ing to tuberculosis. We believe that our evidence will be the same as 

 Bang's in this respect: that it is possible to grow a sound herd from a 

 tuberculous herd if proper care is used. We might sum up the experi- 

 ments in progress with the condemned animals in the following general 

 manner: 



1. The bacteriological examination of milk and products. 



2. The bacteriological examination of urine. 



3. The bacteriological examination of feces. 



4. The bacteriological examination of sputum. 



5. A careful study of the tuberculin test upon condemned animals. 



6. Hygienic and other treatment. 



7. The value of off-spring from tuberculous cows. 



Four bulletins have been issued from the bacteriological laboratory 

 during the past year. 



No. 139, ''Bacteria, What They Are and What They Do," treats of 

 bacteria in a very general way. Its purpose is to pave the way for bac- 

 teriologic reading and to give the readers of station bulletins an in- 

 sight into the bacteriologic world. No attempt was made to give an 

 exhaustive treatment of any chapter in bacteriology. 



No. 140, "Kopiness in Cream or Milk," gives the results of investigation 

 with a bacillus which was causing serious damage to a dairy-farm. The 

 farmer's dairy was attacked by a bacillus during a hot^ sultry spell in the 

 summer of 1896, and rendered his milk unsalable. He was realizing about 

 one hundred fifty dollars per month. This bacillus was isolated and 

 studied in the laboratory. In the spring of 1897 the same trouble ap- 

 peared again in the same dairy, when it was located in the dust of the 

 stable floor. By this time we were ready to suggest a remedy which 

 was followed faithfully and successfully during the summer, and prac- 

 tically without cost to the farmer. 



No. 146, ''Bacteria and the Dairy," considers in a very brief manner, 

 the possible changes produced by bacteria acting upon milk, how they 

 gain entrance to the milk and how they may be kept out. Suggestions 

 are made in regard to their utility and to their pestiferous depredations. 



No. 147, "Pasteurization of Milk," is a semi-technical analysis of the 

 Pasteurizing process, based upon extensive laboratory work with the 

 resistant bacteria usually found in milk. 



We have examined many specimens of milk, water, etc., sent in by farm- 

 ers, during the course of the vear. 



CHAS. E. MARSHALL. 

 Agricultural College, Mich., ) 

 June 30, 1897. f 



