VETERINARY MEDICINE. 275 



An attempt to immunize guinea pig's ag'ainst tuberculosis by the use of 

 graduated, repeated doses of living' tubercle bacilli, L. Bkown, F. IT. IIeise, 

 and S. A. Petroff (Jour. Med. Research, 30 (I'Jl-ff), No. 3, pp. Jp'S-^SS). — The 

 experiments show that repeated doses of even virulent tubercle bacilli prolong 

 the life of the animal far beyond that of the controls. The probable explanation 

 lies in the fact that the superinfection may be held in check for a time by the 

 presence of a slight, active tuberculous focus. "It is very probable from the 

 .lutopsy findings that all of the treated guinea pigs would have eventually died 

 from chronic tuberculosis." 



What has been done with the tuberculin test in Wisconsin, E. G. Hast- 

 ings {Wiscomin Sta. Bui. 2//5 (lOl/f), pp. 3-2.'f, fig. 1). — ^This is a discussion of 

 the results achieved by the State of Wisconsin in the eradicating of tuberculo- 

 sis on the basis of the tuberculin test, especially when carried out by the non- 

 professional tester. The figures given are taken from the records of the State 

 Live Stock Sanitarj^ Board, and continue work previously noted (E. S. R. 

 21, p. 384). 



Wisconsin is the only State, as far as the author's knowledge goes, in which 

 the funds for compensation ai*e not limited. The number of voluntary tests 

 made in 1901 was 425 and in 1908, 40,995. The first compulsory law requiring 

 that only healthy animals should be sold was enforced in the State for six 

 months, i. e., from December, 1910, to June. 1911. The law was repealed. 



" With the advent of general testing, 1907-S, the percentage of reacting 

 animals declined to 8.1 per cent. The results obtained in subsequent years 

 showed a constant decline to 1911-12. The lowest mark was reached in 1910-11, 

 when 200,000 cattle were tested, of which it is estimated that 3 per cent re- 

 acted. It is believed that the results obtained during the last three years indi- 

 cate an actual decrease in the percentage of tubercular animals in the State. 

 This belief is strengthened by the fact that during 1911-12 the testing was less 

 general than during the two previous years. In spite of this fact, the percent- 

 age of reacting animals was lower than in any previous year except 1910-11, 

 when the testing was widespread. It is certain that not over 5 per cent of the 

 dairy cattle of the State are tubercular, and possibly not over 4 per cent. It 

 is probable that the percentage of diseased animals is lower than in any other 

 of the great dairy States." 



No data are given regarding the percentage of diseased herds but it is said 

 not to be in excess of 25 per cent. The larger part of the reacting animals 

 were turned over to the State as provided by law. The percentage of reacting 

 animals condemned in 1906-7 was 48, and in 1911-12, 28.7 per cent. The net 

 return to the State was variable. " The average return was $18.88 per car- 

 cass. The net returns in Wisconsin for the two years, 1910-11 and 1911-12, 

 were $14.21 and $12.90 per head. This is after all freight and killing charges 

 have been paid. . . . For the 6-year period, 190G-1912, the amount recelvetl by 

 the State for the passed meat has amounted to 34.7 per cent of the amount 

 paid by the State to the owners of tubercular cattle." 



The question of compensation, cost of eliminating reacting animals, and the 

 advantages to be gained by the early recognition of reactors are discussed. 

 In addition, the basis of compensation by the State, considerations in deter- 

 mining the value of animals, and the manner of applying the tuberculin test 

 in Wisconsin are gone into. The policy of nonprofessional testing was adopted 

 because it was considered of the greatest imiwrtance to the live stock industry 

 of the State to have the widest possible use of the test. 



The records of testing in Wisconsin differ from those obtained in other 

 States Inasmuch as fewer of the reacting cattle are found to have lesions. " It 



