408 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



bovine tuberculosis, decided that a pronouncement to that effect should prop- 

 erly occupy a foremost place. 



Based on the information contained in the reports of its committees and on 

 such other information as was brought out in the general discussions of the 

 commission, the following resolutions were adopted for presentation to the 

 American Veterinary Medical Association. 



RESOLUTION 1. Dissemination. 



As a general policy to be observed all contact between tuberculous and 

 healthy cattle and between healthy cattle and stables, cars, etc., which may 

 contain living tubercle bacilli should be prevented. To accomplish this, the 

 following specific recommendations are made: 



1. There should be no sale or exchange of animals affected with tuberculosis 

 except for immediate slaughter or for breeding purposes under official super- 

 vision. 



2. That the managments of live-stock shows should give preference to cat- 

 tle known to be free from tuberculosis, either by providing special classes 

 for such cattle or in some other practical way, and should also take every pre- 

 caution to prevent contact between such animals and those not known to be 

 free from disease. 



3. All live-stock shippers should take every precaution to see that cars fur- 

 nished are thoroughly cleansed and disinfected before use. 



RESOLUTION 2. Tuberculin test. 



1. That tuberculin, properly used, is an accurate and reliable diagnostic 

 agent for the detection of active tuberculosis. 



2. That tuberculin may not produce a reaction under the following conditions : 

 (a) When the disease is in a period of incubation. 



(6) When the progress of the disease is arrested, 

 (c) When the disease is extensively generalized. 



The last condition is relatively rare and may usually be detected by physical 

 examination. 



3. On account of the period of incubation and the fact that arrested cases 

 may sooner or later become active, all exposed animals should be retested at 

 intervals of six months to one year. 



4. That the tuberculin test should not be applied to any animal having a 

 temperature higher than normal. 



5. That any animal having given one distinct reaction to tuberculin should 

 thereafter be regarded as tuberculous. 



6. That the subcutaneous injection of tuberculin is the only method of using 

 tuberculin for the detection of tuberculosis in cattle which can be recommended 

 at the present time. 



7. That tuberculin has no injurious effect on healthy cattle. 



RESOLUTION 3. Evidence from tuberculin test. 



That a positive reaction to tuberculin in any properly conducted test, official 

 or otherwise, in any animal in any herd shall be considered evidence sufficient 

 upon which to declare the herd to be infected. 



RESOLUTION 4. Compulsory notification. 



That this commission recommends the passage of legislation providing for 

 the compulsory notification by owners and by veterinarians of the existence 

 of tuberculosis in a herd, whether such existence be made known by detection 

 of clinical cases or by the tuberculin test. 



RESOLUTION 5. Location through slaughter. 



This commission recognizes that the discovery of tuberculosis in animals 

 slaughtered for food purposes furnishes one of the best possible means of 

 locating the disease on the farm, and therefore recommends the adoption of 

 some system of marking, for purposes of identification, all cattle 3 years old 

 and over shipped for slaughter. 



