446 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



I wish it understood that I believe tuberculosis to be a very con- 

 tagious disease, but slow in its course. Every one will acknowl- 

 edge that the danger from the milk and meat is the very least. 

 The milk is diluted by that of healthy cows, under which circum- 

 stances even direct inoculation often fails ; and the meat is only 

 diseased in live cases in one thousand, and then is generally 

 cooked. The danger from inhalation of dried sputa in the dust 

 is very great either from man to man, or man to animals. There- 

 fore, let us wait a little before we condemn all the cattle and other 

 diseased animals ; for, even if we eradicate the disease among 

 them themselves, they will contract it again from man. 



Our experiences and investigations during the last year 

 have only served to strengthen and confirm the opinions 

 expressed in our last annual report, as well as those of Dr. 

 Lee, here given. In an essay read by Dr. Chapin of the 

 city of Springfield before a convention of the boards of health 

 of the State, last October, giving an account of his investi- 

 gations on tuberculosis in that city, and extending over a 

 period of twenty-five years, he gives an opinion based on 

 those investigations, that there was much more danger that 

 our cattle would contract the disease from man than that man 

 would contract it from them. In consequence of unfavorable 

 surmises respecting the condition of the herds of cows which 

 supplied the city of Worcester with milk, the Board visited 

 that locality last March, and examined twenty-five herds, 

 containing 850 cows. With perhaps one exception, the 

 sanitary condition, surroundings and food of these herds was 

 of the best, and the animals were apparently in perfect health. 

 We found but one animal which had fallen under suspicion of 

 disease: but a careful examination of it by auscultation, per- 

 cussion and taking of temperature, did not disclose it. She 

 was in prime good condition, and we learn was killed for 

 beef about two months afterwards-, and no fault was detected 

 in the carcass. The owners of these herds did, and had 

 occasion to, pride themselves on the condition of their animals, 

 and the consumers of their milk may have perfect confidence 

 in its excellence. During the year a record has been kept of 

 200 cows slaughtered for beef in the vicinity of Marlborough, 

 and but two per cent were found unfit for human food in 

 consequence of diseases of all kinds. Similar cases to the 



