EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART III. 139 



must be conducted by states or cities, in order to perfect the system 

 of inspection which will protect the consumer. It seems rather ridic- 

 ulous for the national government to inspect about five-eighths of 

 the animals slaughtered, unless the other three-eighths are also 

 inspected by equally competent inspectors. It is absolutely neces- 

 sary that either cities or states take up this work and complete what 

 the Federal Grovernment is unable to do. 



The department has assisted, as far as possible, in eradicating 

 tuberculosis, and in one way, has assisted by the free distribution of 

 tuberculin to various state and city officials. It has not been given 

 general distribution, because it was thought better, that those desir- 

 ing it should obtain it from their local officials. It has been alleged 

 that tuberculin will produce tuberculosis in animals that are 

 injected with it. I do not presume any of you are of that opinion. 

 I may briefly state how it is prepared. The bacillus of human tu- 

 berculosis is taken, and with it bouillon or other media is infected. 

 This is called a culture. The bacilli grow on the top of this fluid, 

 looking like a mould. It is kept in retorts at a certain temperature, 

 and when it reaches a certain degree of development it is shaken up 

 and all sterilized, completely killing any bacilli which may be pres- 

 ent. In addition it is filtered through very fiiie porcelain filters, 

 and this main product which is filtered out is then the tuberculin 

 which is injected into the cattle. If they are tubercular, it will 

 give a definite true elevation of temperature, with the exception 

 that in advanced stages of tuberculosis, they frequently give no 

 reaction at all; there often, however, is a sub-normal temperature. 



So you see, there is no. possibility for cattle obtaining tuberculosis 

 in this manner. In the eradication of tuberculosis there is one 

 important fact, which all of you who are so unfortunate as to have 

 infected cattle, should bear in mind. It is the height of folly to go 

 to the expense of destroying your diseased animals, without you 

 thoroughly disinfect all the premises with which they may have 

 come in contact. We have demonstrated beyond the shadow of a 

 doubt, that a very large number of bacillis are passed, with infected 

 animals, to the hogs that follow them and in this way readily con- 

 tract tuberculosis. This accounts in a very large measure for the 

 very large amount of tuberculosis in hogs, particularly in corn dis- 

 tricts, where it is a general practice for the hogs to follow the 

 cattle. 



Once tuberculosis is eradicated from the cattle herds, it will be 

 very speedily eradicated of its own accord from hogs. This disease 

 is really more prevalent in certain kinds of our cattle than most 



