200 VETERINARY STUMES 



are being tested and several thermometers are in use, the latter 

 are secured to the tails for safety. This may be easily done by 

 a wire clamp, rubber hand, and wire hook, or by shoestrings 

 tied so as to give the tail a few inches of play. This permits the 

 operator to use a large number of thermometers, and prevents 

 them from falling to the Hoor and breaking. 



Dose. — The dose is about 1 c.c. or i^ dram Bureau tuberculin 

 per 300 pounds live weight. 



Cautions. — Cattle must be kept under the same conditions as 

 nearly as possible on both days; i.e., watered at the same hours, 

 — immediately after a temperature never shortly before — and 

 fed at the same hours on each day, given as nearly as possible 

 the same amounts, and treated alike on the two days. 



There are many possibilities of error if the operator is not 

 careful, accurate, and observing. The cattle must not be excited 

 or worried in any way but kept as quiet as possible during the 

 whole test. If the whole stable or any portion of it be much 

 warmer on the second day than on the first, if any cattle are 

 allowed to become thirsty or drink large quantities of cold 

 water, or to go much beyond their feeding time, note should be 

 made of the fact and this considered in making the diagnosis 

 in doubtful cases. Drinking a large quantity of cold water may 

 reduce the temperature one or two degrees at a critical time 

 and spoil a low reaction in a diseased animal. 



Cattle that show high temperatures, above 103, during period 

 (A) should ordinarily be released from test. Heavily pregnant 

 cows may be tested if carefully handled and temperatures are 

 normal. It is always possible that an animal may show normal 

 temperature during (A) and then be feverish from causes not 

 connected with the test, during (B). This rarely occurs, but 

 the possibility must be borne in mind. 



Importance to hreeders. — The value of the test to breeders lies 

 in the fact that it enables them to know whether their cattle are 

 free from tuberculosis, to free their herds and put them on a 

 sound and healthy basis in case they are diseased, and to buy 

 safely. 



Diagnosis. — Diagnosis is made mainly upon the fever reaction. 

 If during (B) the temperature rises about 2.5 degrees or more 

 above the highest normal as shown by comparison of the (A) 

 and (B) temperatures, and careless errors have been avoided, 

 it is usually safe to diagnose tuberculosis, providing the (A) 



