138 THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY 



guinea pigs were treated in like manner. During the first 

 season, the undertaking was in sole charge, as regards the 

 scientific part of it, of Dr. Austin Peters, a veterinarian of 

 the first reputation, and in 1888 Dr. Harold C. Ernst, of 

 the Harvard College medical school, was appointed as bac- 

 teriologist to the society. The experiments with animals 

 ceased on July 1, 1890, and the laboratory experiments on 

 January 1, 1891. The total cost to the society at that 

 time had been 122,124.12. The results were ultimately 

 published in a report, but the first use made of them was to 

 bring the facts ascertained to the attention of a committee 

 of the Legislature of the year 1891. These facts were con- 

 firmatory of opinions held by many medical men in this 

 country and in Europe, that the germs of tuberculosis are 

 conveyed by the milk of cows into the human system, and 

 retain their vitality, and so cause, in part, prevalent tuber- 

 culosis diseases in the community. Evidence was given to 

 show that the bacillii (germs of the disease) in cows dis- 

 eased, only elsewhere than in the udder, were liable to find 

 their way into the milk product. The legislation desired 

 was not obtained at that session, but the effect has been 

 manifest in a report to the present Legislature, from the 

 Board of Agriculture, and in other places. 



The various items of expenditure which have been given 

 in the foregoing pages have been intended only to indicate 

 in a general way, the direction of the society's efforts at 

 different periods, and the magnitude of certain enterprises 

 undertaken by its trustees or agents, or by others acting 

 for the time under its supervision or patronage. The fig- 

 ures fall far short of the total outlay in the society's 

 field of activity, regarded as a whole, and, in many in- 

 stances, in the particular enterprises. The cost of importa- 

 tions of live stock, for example, has always been enhanced 

 by expenses for keeping, through periods of various length. 

 Much in printing and distributing circulars and small 

 pamphlets has been done, of which no mention is here 

 made. The total cost of the advertising in newspapers of 

 matters directly concerning farmers' interests, during the< 



