404 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



impossible to say whether or not tuberculosis is on the increase 

 in the bovine race. We are simply finding more cases of it 

 because we are using a better means of detecting it. 



It is true, however, that in certain localities statistics show 

 that the percentage of deaths from consumption in the human 

 race are on the decrease. The cause for this decrease is ap- 

 parent to any person who has properly studied the problem. 

 Statistics show that the deaths from consumption in these locali- 

 ties (where statistics have been accurately kept) were for a cer- 

 tain* time on the increase, and then within very recent years 

 they began to decrease. This decrease was coincident with the 

 adoption by boards of health and other proper authorities of the 

 theory of the contagiousness of the disorder, and the consequent 

 strenuous efforts made to eliminate this element of its spread by 

 scattering broadcast among the people full information as to the 

 better methods of preventing the extension of contagious dis- 

 eases and of maintaining health. The fact that, with the adop- 

 tion of this view and these methods, this most insidious disease 

 has commenced to decrease in frequency, is most encouraging. 



It is further stated (as an argument against the eradication 

 of this disease by the methods adopted by the commission ) that 

 "In three of the Southern cities, where milk is used but little 

 as a beverage, and consequently, to follow the arguments of the 

 commissioners and scientists, the death rate from consumption 

 should be low, it was 162 in Nashville, 144 in Charleston and 

 121 in New Orleans, — greater than in many of the largest milk- 

 consuming centres of the North." This is based upon the 

 erroneous supposition that it is claimed by this commission and 

 those interested in this work that the source of consumption is 

 in all cases directly traceable to the use of milk. This is one 

 of the many sources of infection. It is a mere distrilDuter of the 

 germs of contagion, and, as has already been stated, in order to 

 produce the disease there must be a receptive condition of the 

 individual. Conditions of life in the South are far different 

 from those in the North ; and until all of the different condi- 

 tions have been carefully studied and given their proper place 

 in the consideration, the mere statement of the percentage of 

 death rates within the limits of these Southern cities is of no 

 value whatever. 



It is further stated that " the germ or tuberculosis is pos- 



