No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS. 44.3 



causes which produce it here remain practically the same, 

 and have been given in detail in previous reports. We there- 

 fore consider it wise that the regulations regarding its treat- 

 ment, which we have sent to all our municipalities, should 

 remain in force. 



Bovine Tuberculosis. 



Though certain forms of lung trouble among our cattle had 

 been previously reported upon by our Board, the first specific 

 report on this disease was made in 1880, and it has been dis- 

 cussed, and information respecting it given, in each of our 

 reports since 1886. It has been our earnest endeavor, each 

 year, to make a complete survey of >the entire field and all 

 the stock committed to our oversight ; to report the exact 

 tacts obtained by our observations in relation to the extent 

 to which the disease prevails, and the danger therefrom to 

 our people by the consumption of our stock products ; and 

 to do this without any regard to alarmists who, on the one 

 hand, are apparently endeavoring to make business and 

 money for themselves by circulating sensational reports ; or, 

 on the other, to those who declare there is no such disease 

 or danger, that they may be unchecked in the sale of milk or 

 meat, however infected it may be. In our last report we dis- 

 cussed this whole matter at considerable length, and quoted 

 from an article on " The present attitude of veterinarians on 

 the subject of tuberculosis," by Dr. Daniel D. Lee, instructor 

 of anatomy in the veterinary department of Harvard Univer-' 

 sity. In this article he quotes the opinion of Professor 

 Airlong, an authority on this subject, " that tuberculous milk 

 and meat is the least important source of this contagion," 

 and that " only about five in a thousand is the number of 

 tuberculous cattle found." He says, "The chief source 

 of danger, both in animals «and men, lies in the inhalation of 

 dust containing the dried sputa, in those localities where the 

 population is dense and the disease prevalent." And again 

 he says, "I enter a plea that the severity of the crusade 

 against our cattle be somewhat lessened, until some steps 

 are taken by the medical profession and boards of health to 

 quarantine human beings suffering from tuberculosis." He 

 closes his article as follows : — 



