NINTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART VII 295 
I am not going to discuss the merits or demerits of tuberculin as a 
diagnostic agent. Suffice it to say that if there is anything settled 
conclusively concerning this disease it is that tuberculin is reliable and as 
accurate as anything human can be, when used intelligently and its fiind- 
ings correctly interpreted. 
But we must pass to the consideration of the economic aspects of this 
disease, and here we find much of intense interest. Dr. Melvin, in study- 
ing this subject, has estimated that in the United States alone the losses 
are about $14,000,000 annually from condemnation, deaths, keeping and 
feeding unprofitable animals, etc., not to speak of legislation. In this 
connection I desire to call your attention to individual losses that are 
often overlooked, such, for instance, as the losses sustained by one farmer 
or stock owner unconsciousely sharing his neighbor's losses. To illus- 
trate. Side by side live two farmers, each engaged extensively in mixed 
farming, with large dairy, beef and pork interests. One of these farmers' 
live stock are absolutely free from disease of every description, and tu- 
berculosis in particular. His neighbor's live stock are infected. When 
they go to market with their products, the man with the clean stock 
has no advantage, for, as is often the case, their live stock presents about 
the same physical appearance. The price they receive is the same. Then 
he is at a positive disadvantage, for if they sell to a pr.cker he buys them 
both with the knowledge that a certain percentage will be condemned, 
and I suppose he makes provision in the matter of price accordingly. 
I believe if I were farming that I would make it a point to know the 
condition of my live stock with reference to tuberculosis and if I found 
the tuberculosis free, I would advertise that fact I would guarantee them 
in that respect to the buyer. 
In the matter of dairy products the circumstances are substantially 
the same. Farmers and dairymen are competing with each other so to 
speak and under the present conditions there is not very much encourage- 
ment for one to endeavor to keep his farm and its live stock free from 
this disease when adjacent farms and their live stock are badly in- 
fected. Packers are urging the government to take some action in this 
matter, suggesting an idea of enacting a law requiring systematic tag- 
ging of all the animals on farms so that they could be identified at the 
packing centers and traced back to the farms from which they were 
originally shipped. 
Dr. Burton Rogers, of Manhattan, Kan., estimates that about six per 
cent of the farms are furnishing all the tuberculosis, and the other 94 
per cent are sharing the loss. I suppose, however, in the matter of the 
loss, the consumer bears his part also, not alone in the price he pays 
but from the fact that the product is not, perhaps, of as good quality, 
or as wholesome and safe, taking the view that in the consumption of 
such products he is in danger of becoming infected with tuberculosis. 
This aspect of the subject is inexhaustible and it is impossible to do more 
than merely mention a few of its more salient features. We might go 
on and consider tuberculosis in its relation to the dairy business and in 
all its branches. 
Tuberculosis as it relates to the meat business, and you can hardly 
think of these occupations without realizing that this disease has a 
