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BULLETIN OF 

 MASSACHUSETTS BOAKD OF AGRICULTURE. 



VETERINARY. 



Tuberculosis and its Eradication. 



PART I. 



Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, due to the uction of a 

 minute living organism upon the cells of the bods' whieli it inhab- 

 its. The germ produces no other disease than tuberculosis, so 

 has been named Bacillus tuberculosis. 



The manifestation of the malady exists in the form of larger 

 or smaller nodules or tubercles ; hence the name tuberculosis. 

 These in their earliest stages of development are no larger than 

 the smallest shot, but as the trouble develops they frequently 

 coalesce, forming masses the size of an orange, or, in exceptional 

 instances, a child's head. 



All domestic animals contract the disease. The bovine are 

 most susceptible, but it has been found in the horse, pig, sheep, 

 goat, in fowls and in members of the human family. In each it is 

 identical and in the latter is commonly called consumption. The 

 fact is established that each may under certain conditions contract 

 it from the otlier. 



It can be produced experimentally in calves and pigs by feeding 

 them material which contains the living germs, such as milk from 

 tuberculous cows. 



Such being the case, it is reasonable to suppose that it may be 

 produced in individuals of the human family by tlie same means. 

 Tliat the milk of affected cows frequently contains the germ has 

 been repeatedly proven by experiment. 



While it may be caused by the ingestion of tuberculous milk and 

 meat, it may also be produced by inoculation through' the broken 

 skin and by the inhalation of dried germs. This is the usual way 

 by which it is spread. An animal or person having the disease in 

 the lungs coughs up and expectorates material rich in bacilli ; this 

 becomes spread about house or stable, the moisture dries out of it 

 and the living organisms, exceedingly small, become attached to 

 particles of dust. These are set in motion by sweeping and dust- 

 ing or in stables by moving hay, etc. 



