196 DISEASES OF HORSES AND CATTLE. 



CHAPTER XVII. 



TUBERCULOSIS. 



This is a constitutional disease, usually locating 

 itself in the lungs, although it is found in other or- 

 gans of the body, such as the glands of the intes- 

 tines, mesenteric glands, and glands of the udder. 

 This disease affects cattle more than any other 

 domestic animals. This disease is hereditary and 

 is found more frequently among cattle that have 

 been inbred. It is also most common among the 

 improved herds, thus short horns, especially good 

 milkers, are more predisposed to this disorder. In 

 the last few years a great deal of attention has 

 been called to this disease, and a few veterinarians 

 have allowed themselves to be carried away be- 

 yond the bounds of reason on this disease and have 

 caused needless alarm and have done a great deal 

 of harm to the cattle industry, as well as scaring 

 the people. 



Tuberculosis is a very old disease and is de- 

 scribed by writers several thousand years ago, and 

 if the disease is as contagious as some are asking 

 the people to believe, there would not be a warm- 

 blooded animal alive. Their theory is that rats, 

 mice, and other small animals which eat out of feed 

 boxes of cattle affected with tuberculosis will con- 

 i ract the disease and give it to others; also, that a 



