786 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The sources and methods of infection are not well understood. The treatment in 

 animals is not very satisfactory on account of the very great expense. In man, the 

 only treatment is surgical. Infection experiments in which it was attempted to 

 develop a mature form of this worm in the alimentary canal of other hosts were only 

 slightly satisfactory. 



Relation of bovine tuberculosis to the public health, D. E. Salmon ( U. S. 

 Dept. Arjr., Bureau of Animal Industry Bui. 33, lyp- 56).— This bulletin is a report 

 which was read before the American Public Health Association in Buffalo on Sep- 

 tember 16, 1901. The topics discussed in the report include extent of bovine tuber- 

 culosis in Europe and the United States, effect of products of diseased animals on the 

 public health, and the communicability of bovine tuberculosis to man. The report 

 is of a controversial nature, and an attemiDt is made to show that the evidence upon 

 which Koch based his statement that the disease is not transmissible from animals 

 to man or from man to animals is not well founded. Numerous experiments of 

 different investigators showing positive infection and extensive development of 

 tuberculosis by feeding cattle upon tubercular material of human origin are cited. It 

 is argued that since bovine tuberculosis is communicable to a large number of widely 

 separated species of animals, it is probably communicable to man. Especial atten- 

 tion is given to a discussion of cases of accidental infection of man by bovine tubercle 

 material, the infection of man by milk from tuberculous cows, and the extent and 

 significance of intestinal tuberculosis in man. It is admitted that it is not absolutely 

 proved that any case of tuberculosis in man was caused by tubercle material of 

 bovine origin, but the evidence is considered as strong as could be expected in the 

 absence of positive experiments. 



Studies of tuberculosis and cow temperatures, J. Nelson {New Jersey Slas. 

 Rpl. 1900, jip. 361-404, pis. 5). — Tables are presented showing the record of abortions 

 in the college herd. The rate of abortion is reported to have continued uninfluenced 

 by treatment, which has been accurately applied. Further study on the subject is 

 required. 



The records of tuberculin tests on the college herd are presented in a tabular form. 

 One animal was slaughtered on account of the presence of physical signs of tuber- 

 culosis, and after the application of the tuberculin test it was found that at least 7 other 

 animals in apparently good health were infected with tuberculosis. The results of 

 post-mortem examinations of these animals are given in detail. The general college 

 farm herd was retested for the fifth time and the results are tal)ulated. The herd is 

 tested twice each year. It is considered necessary to apply the tuljerculin test thus 

 often in order to detect any new cases of tuberculosis which may have arisen in the 

 interval since the last test. Of the 7 cases which reacted, 5 were known to be tuber- 

 culous and had reacted on previous tests. 



The study of the normal temi)erature of cows was undertaken for the purpose of 

 determining the fluctuations in temperature which may occur under ordinary cir- 

 cumstances. This matter is of importance, especially in its bearings on the inter- 

 pretation of the results of tuberculin tests. The fluctuations of the temperature of 

 the cows show wide limits. These variations in temperatures are rapid, so that even 

 in a single day the highest and lowest temperatures may differ more than the tem- 

 peratures of successive days at the same hour. The temijeratures of the cattle in a 

 herd do not vary in imison. One animal may show a high temperature while 

 another shows a low. The variations in temperature may be nuich more frequent in 

 one animal than in another. In order to determine accurately the normal tempera- 

 ture of an animal it is necessary to obtain a full record of the normal temperature 

 at different times of the day and under different conditions, and the observations 

 should be numerous and close together. The record of normal temperatures should 

 be complete in another respect, viz, it should continue during the hours correspond- 

 ing to those at which reaction temperatures are taken. In general there is a rise of 

 temperature which begins during the feeding and milking time, reaches the climax a 



