340 MILK AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH 



CHAP. 



main report of the Commission 1 which has been officially 

 published by the Canadian and United States Governments. 



Based on the information contained in the reports of its com- 

 mittees 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 : 



( 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 recom- 

 mendations 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 supervision. 



(2) That the managements of live stock shows should give 

 preference to cattle 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 precaution 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 furnished are thoroughly cleansed and disinfected 

 before use. 



(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, (b) When 

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

 extensively generalised. 



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. 



1 Taken from the full report reprinted in the Journal of Meat and Milk 

 Hygiene, 1911, vol. i. p. 248. 



