64 REPORT OF THE SCOTTISH COMMISSION 



Disease 



Under the careful Government inspection that exists any out- 

 break of disease is soon discovered, and every effort is made to 

 eliminate the trouble. The country, however, is not entirely free 

 from foot-and-mouth disease, and tuberculosis is also in existence. 

 Dairy stock being rather susceptible to tubercular disease, great 

 efforts are made in Denmark to prevent it affecting the human 

 subject. x\t the dairy companies and creameries milk is pasteur- 

 ised, and vast sums are spent in efforts to destroy disease germs in 

 milk. Professor Bang, one of the greatest living authorities on this 

 subject, gave a short address to the Commission, in his class-room 

 at Copenhagen, on his experiments amongst cattle and the results. 

 The keynote of his system is isolation. His method, briefly stated, 

 is as follows : Given a herd of cows, they are first of all subjected 

 to the tuberculin test. This is done in Denmark, free of expense, 

 by a Government expert, subject to the conditions laid down by 

 Government for complete isolation and disinfection. Cows failing 

 are separated generally in a building by themselves. These are 

 ever afterwards kept apart, and not tested again. . Buildings where 

 affected cows have been are then thoroughly cleaned and disinfected 

 before sound cattle are admitted. The sound cows continue to be 

 tested every six months, and any cow reacting is at once transferred 

 to the isolated lot. On a number of farms where this plan has 

 been carefully followed the results are gratifying, the disease having 

 been completely eliminated in a few years. These herds continue 

 to be tested every six months, but seldom have a reaction. Pro- 

 fessor Bang does not think that the reacting cows should be 

 slaughtered, but kept separate. He would have no fear of the 

 calves from these cows, but the calves must be separated at birth. 

 Even though the cows react. Professor Bang would continue to use 

 the milk without hesitation, so long as the udder is not affected. 

 The young calves in Denmark are fed by hand. They may get 

 their mother's milk even though affected with the trouble, so long 

 as the milk is pasteurised ; but preferably sound cows' milk should 

 be used. The risk by contagion from animals going in the field is 

 small compared with those tied up together in byres. The risk 

 from affected beef the Professor thinks small. If the affected part 

 is cut out he would allow the use of the carcase for human food. 

 A reacting bull with tuberculosis should be kept by himself, but 

 may continue to be used with every safety. Isolation as soon as 

 possible, and as far as possible, is the wise and common-sense 

 teaching on this subject by Professor Bang. Several of the herds 

 visited had, under his direction, been cleared of the disease. In 

 more than 90 per cent, of the cases treated the test has proved 

 reliable. The adoption of this system in Denmark is by no means 

 universal, but, where carefully applied, seems to have produced 

 satisfactory results. 



