Tuberculosis 381 



When an animal that has had tuberculosis is ex- 

 amined after death, the diseased tissue appears as lumps 

 or nodules either in or on the organ attacked. If these 

 rather hard lumps are cut open they will be found to 

 contain a yellow, cheesy substance, which in many cases 

 has turned to pus or matter, usually thick and yellow, 

 with lumps of cheesy material in it. Sometimes the 

 disease appears as a fibrous growth in reddish bunches 

 on the outside of the organ, or part, such as the lungs, 

 heart, liver, diaphragm, or "midriff," or on the lining 

 membrane of the chest or abdominal cavities. These 

 lumps or tubercules vary in size from that of a pin- 

 head to that of a marble, and may be so thick as com- 

 pletely to cover the surface. Fig. 56. 



There is no treatment known that cures tuberculosis 

 in cattle. However, there are preventive precautions. 

 The best method of preventing the disease is to pre- 

 vent healthy cattle from coming in contact with in- 

 fected ones, or wdth infected stalls, food, feed -boxes, 

 and drinking- places. If an animal has the disease, or 

 is suspected, it should be isolated from others and the 

 quarte-rs thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by a 5 per 

 cent solution of carbolic acid in water. Aside from pro- 

 tecting cattle from the germs of the disease, the best 

 method of preventing it is to keep the animals healthy 

 and vigorous. Dark, damp, filthy and badly ventilated 

 stables are hotbeds for the propagation of the dis- 

 ease, once it is introduced. Sunlight is a great disinfec- 

 tant. In fact, the germs are killed when exposed to 

 direct sunlight for a few hours. Plenty of fresh air is 

 also very important, preserving the animals' health by 



