Bovine Tuberculosis. 127 



the herds examined, it must be remembered that they represent only 

 about one-half of one per cent of the cattle in the State.* It is clear that 

 general deductions should not be drawn from the condition found in so 

 small a percentage of animals. The conclusion, however, seems to be 

 well founded that tubercle bacteria have improved their opportunity 

 and have become quite widely distributed in our cattle. 



The insidious nature of tuberculosis and the exceptional opportuni- 

 ties afforded for its spread, are largely responsible for the extent of the 

 disease. If there is more tuberculosis in the cattle of one locality than 

 there is in another, it is because the opportunities for its spread have been 

 better. Every case must have been contracted in some manner from a 

 previous one. Unfortunately, the subtle nature of this affection has not 

 been sufficiently understood by many to enable them to recognize the 

 facts concerning it. As a consequence, many dairymen have neglected to 

 take precautions to protect their herds. As knowledge of the means of 

 dissemination and the course of tuberculosis itself in the body of the 

 infected animal increases, it is made clear that many of the efforts that 

 have been put forth to prevent it have not succeeded because they 

 failed to prevent the entrance of tubercle bacteria. The knowledge 

 derived from the application of the Bang method, the opportunities for 

 repeated and frequent tests and autopsy, have brought out many very 

 important facts relating to the course of this great scourge of cattle, 

 and there is no longer any reason for mere guessing or for hopeful 

 neglect. 



Although bovine tuberculosis seems to be irrepressible, it is not such 

 an unconquerable enemy as it may appear. If we stop its spread it 

 must disappear with the present infected animals. There are in addition 

 many decided improvements. The most important of these are: (i) 

 the enforcement of the law to prevent dairy cattle from coming into the 

 State unless they pass the tuberculin test, (2) the privilege granted by 

 the Department of Agriculture to owners of herds to apply the Bang 

 method, and (3) the increased interest taken by cattle owners to protect 

 their herds and to weed out the diseased individuals. The last is 

 evidenced by the increased demand for tuberculin from the State Veterin- 

 ary College. In 1903, there were 3,867 doses called for by veterinarians 

 and the State Department of Agriculture; 7,605 doses in 1904; 7,985 

 doses in 1905; 13,038 doses in 1906; and 25,197 doses in 1907 were thus 

 distributed. With this widespread interest on the part of the farmers 

 themselves and a better knowledge of the nature of the disease and its 

 methods of control by the practicing veterinarians, there is every reason 

 to believe that the healthy herds wdll be better protected and that one 



*The year book of the U. S. Department of Agricuhure for igoj gives New 

 York 1,826,211 milch cows and 944,734 other cattle. 



