476 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
sands of animals have been inoculated, and the veterinarians say there is 
absolutely no reason in all their experience for believing that the tuberculin 
inoculation is followed by any injurious results. 
In 1898 tuberculosis was found in the large Shorthorn herd belong- 
ing to W. C. Edwards, of Canada, who with commendable promptness and 
public spirit had his animals tested, and at once proceeded to separate 
the diseased from the healthy animals. These were all finely bred ani- 
mals, and the very class which we have been told are most susceptible to 
the injurious effects of tuberculin. After using this test regularly for 
two years, Mr. Edwards wrote as follows: 
"I have seen nothing to lead me to believe that the tuberculin test had 
any injurious influence on the course of the disease. It is by no means 
our opinion that the disease has been stimulated or aggravated by the 
application of the tuberculin test. All animals that we have tested two 
or three times continue as hale and hearty as they were previously, and 
not one animal in our herds has broken down or failed in any way since 
we began testing." 
Mr. Edwards, in December, 1901, verbally stated to the writer that his 
views as to the harmlessness of tuberculin remained unchanged, and 
that he had not seen the least ill effect with any of his cattle from its use. 
Those who have had most experience with tuberculin have failed to 
observe any injurious effects following its use upon healthy cattle. With 
tuberculous cattle it produces a fever of short duration, and in the great 
majority of cases all derangement of the system which it causes disap- 
pears withn forty-eight hours after the tuberculin is administered. There 
appear to have been a very few cases in which the disease was aggravated, 
and a greater number in which it was benefited by the injection of tu- 
berculin. The cases of abortion following the tuberculin test have not 
been numerous, even when cows v/ere tested within a few weeks of the 
normal time of calving. The few cases of abortion which have occurred 
may be explained by the fact that abortion in cattle is a very common 
occurrence, and that it would inevitably happen sometimes after the tu- 
berculin test as a mere coincidence, and without any relation between the 
test and the loss of the calf. The cases of abortion which have been cited 
appear to be no more numerous than might be expected to have occurred 
among the same number of cattle within the same period if the test had 
not been applied. 
Most of the objections to tuberculin would probably be removed if 
some method of compensation for the reacting animals could be de- 
vised. Thus, in Pennsylvania, where tuberculosis is being eradicated with 
more success than in any other State, and where there are usually three 
times as many voluntary requests on file for the application of the 
test as can be made, all reacting animals are paid for by the State. As the 
suppression of tuberculosis is a public health measure it would appear 
perfectly logical for the State governments to reimburse cattle owners 
for animals condemned and slaughtered. 
Provision could be made to pay 70 per cent of the appraised value of 
the condemned animals, not to exceed $30 per head for common stock 
or $60 for registered stock. Such legislation should also include a re- 
nnirpmp.nt for thfi testinar of all cattlft cominar into the state. 
