150 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



We do not approve of the enforcement of the tuberculin test for many reasons, 

 some of which will appear more fully in our answers to subsequent questions. 



Our first reason for disapproval of the enforcement of the tuberculin test is 

 that the scientific world has not yet fully accepted the belief that bovine tuber- 

 culosis is transmissible to human beings. Exhaustive examinations have been 

 conducted upon this subject, both abroad and in our country, for several years. 

 It is claimed by scientists of the highest standing that no primary case of tuber- 

 culosis from purely bovine sources has been conclusively demonstrated. Turn- 

 ing to the facts produced by those who claim to have discovered the bovine 

 bacillus in human beings, we believe that we can sum up the result of their 

 investigations in the statement that those who claim that human beings are 

 liable to contract tuberculosis from bovine sources through the ingestion of milk 

 admit that such cases are very limited in number; and none are claimed to 

 have been definitely proved where the contagion has affected a child over 5 

 years old, and so small a number of infants under 5 years as to be negligible. 



Second. The enforcement of the tuberculin test and the slaughter of react- 

 ing cows would necessarily increase the price of milk. The immediate results 

 of this increase of price would be to deprive many people of one of their chief 

 staples of food and the probable loss of human lives among children who 

 would be apt to die as the result of inanition. 



It is possible that, from an economic point of view, the country will some 

 day come to the enforcement of the tuberculin test throughout the whole 

 country, but in the present state of the dairy business a general enforcement 

 of that test and the slaughter of the reacting cows would produce, first, a great 

 financial injury to the dairy business, and, second and more serious, a loss 

 to the people of the country in depriving a great majority of a large portion of 

 their milk supply. When the time has arrived for the enforcement of the test 

 throughout the country we believe that if properly and honestly enforced it will 

 produce economic results in helping to protect the dairymen from the loss which 

 now follows one of the contagious diseases to which animals are liable. (Bor- 

 den's Condensed Milk Co., New York, N. Y.) 



Properly applied, the tuberculin test would eradicate tuberculosis from dairy 

 herds and most probably cause a marked reduction of this disease among chil- 

 dren. (Walker-Gordon Laboratory.) 



Decrease of tuberculosis. (Dr. V. C. Vaughan, Ann Arbor, Mich.) 



A higher quality of milk and feeling of security in the community that one 

 danger is largely overcome. (Dr. S. C. Prescott, Boston, Mass.) 



It would give milk free from tubercle bacilli. Ultimate eradication of tuber- 

 culosis from dairy cattle. (Health officer Los Angeles, Cal.) 



None at this time. ( J. M. Houston, White Cross Milk Co., Washington, D. C.) 



Assist in prevention of spread of bovine tuberculosis. (Health officer San 

 Francisco, Cal.) 



It would create more demand for raw milk and lessen the need for pasteur- 

 ized milk; also less demand for pasteurized milk would necessitate cleaner 

 milk. (Health officer St. Joseph, Mo.) 



Ultimately the eradication of tuberculosis from cattle. (Health officer Wheel- 

 ing, W. Va.) 



It will protect the producer from severe losses from tuberculosis in his herd 

 that must pecessarily follow without the test. It will protect children from 

 infection. (Dr. C. J. Marshall, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.) 



To allay the fears of the milk consumer, regarding transmission to humans. 

 (Health officer Scranton, Pa.) 



QUESTION 2. To what extent is the tuberculin test reliaUet 



ANSWERS. 



The tuberculin test applied by a competent person with properly prepared 

 tuberculin is exceedingly reliable in the detection of tuberculosis and is by 

 far the most reliable agent known for this purpose. This test makes it pos- 

 sible to detect tuberculosis in cattle at an early stage when the disease could 

 not be discovered in the living animals by other means. The few generalized and 

 advanced cases that do not react to tuberculin can be easily detected by visual 

 examination. The results of tests made by State and Federal officers with 

 tuberculin prepared by the Bureau of Animal Industry covering a period of 

 over 15 years show that the lesions of tuberculosis were demonstrated in 98.39 

 per cent of reacting cattle which were slaughtered. In the recent work of test- 



