15 



warns against its application."*^ I\Iy attention has been directed to 

 this question from the beginning. In my first publication on tuber- 

 culin injection *■* I reported two cases in which acute miliary 

 tuberculosis was proved in two high grade tuberculous cows several 

 weeks after tiie tuberculin injection. I then stated my suspicion 

 that perhaps the tuberculin injection had some connection with this 

 just as is often supposed to be the case in human practice. With 

 my present very large amount of material for observation at hand, I 

 may express the following opinion : Such an acute development of 

 tuberculosis as a result of tuberculin injection is to be feared only 

 exceptionally and then in cases of advanced tuberculosis. It must 

 not he forgotten that acute miliary tuberculosis by no means rarely ac- 

 com.panies an advanced tuberculosis of long standing. It is therefore 

 impossible to offer strict proof of the causal connection with the in- 

 jection, and only oft repeated observation could make this probable.*^ 

 In support of my view I offer the following : In the course of the 

 last three years I have made careful post mortem examinations of 83 

 tuberculous animals which have been removed from my experiment 

 farm, Thurebylille. Among these were IS (or strictly speaking 23) 

 high grade, tuberculous animals. I have been able to prove miliary 

 tuberculosis in only 4 of these. Amcng the others which showed less 

 •developed tuberculosis, I have never found miliary tuberculosis, and 

 with very many I have never found any sign of a more rapid devel- 

 opment of the process. On the contrary it has been proved that the 

 disease was restricted locally, often for years, in spite of yearly 

 repeated injections. Dissections were made at very different periods 

 after the injections. In 17 cases from 4 to 12 days after the last 

 test. In all of these cases earlier tests had been made, months or 

 years before. In 28 cases the injection took place from 19 days to 

 2 months before the butchering. In three of these cases earlier injec- 

 tions had been made. In 38 cases from two and one-half months to one 

 year intervened between the last injection and the dissection. Dissec- 

 tion gives the best explanation of this question, but a clinical obseiva- 

 tion, continued for years, of a herd tested with tuberculin can render 



43. " It appears to me a very great risk to subject entire herds of cattle breeding 

 animals and calves intended for breeding, milcli cows in milk cure establish- 

 ments and other animals, to the tuberculin test. By this procedure, the tuber- 

 culosis whicli in many animals is in a dormant state is aroused and made imme- 

 diately dangerous. The introduction of acute nliliar.^• tuberculosis greatly weakens 

 the health of the animals and in the majority of cases hiirries them to an untimely 

 slaughter which, as is well known, is very unprofitable to the owner." Land- 

 wirthschaftl. .Jahrbuch 1S94 Vil. p 404. 



44. Berliner Thieraerztliche Wochenschrift 1891. Tidskrif t for Veterinaerer 1891- 



45. This view I fully indorse, and do so supported by experience gathered from 

 material forwarded me twice weekly, from the Dresd'en slaughter-house.— >/o7j?ie. 



