19O9 MILK COMMISSIOX. 125 



was admitted that at least seven or eight per cent, of the cases of tuberculosis were 

 of bovine origin, and his own opinion was that the percentage was a great deal 

 higher. 



It must be remembered, of course, that every tuberculous cow does not give 

 tuberculous milk. Fortunately, only cows which have tuberculosis of the udder or 

 of the glands will impart the bacilli with the milk. Veterinarians agree that there 

 is not more than one or two per cent, of the cows of this Province which have 

 tuberculosis of the udder or glands. But the insidious nature of the disease is 

 such that it is impossible to tell when it may spread from other parts to the udder 

 and thereby get into the milk. There is an additional way by which the milk may 

 become contaminated, and that is, by reason of the excreta from a tuberculous cow 

 or the contaminated stable dust dropping into the milk through careless handling. 

 In this connection, E. C. Schroeder, M.D.V., one of the experts of the Washington 

 Bureau of Animal Industry, has found that the average cow passes thirty pounds 

 of excreta a day, and this would contain 37,800,000 tubercle bacilli. Hence, the 

 presence of a tuberculous cow in a stable is a menace to some extent, slight or 

 otherwise. 



METHODS USEDl IN OTHER COUNTRIES. 



The tuberculin test, introduced toy Koch in 1890, has been the most potent 

 factor in the fighting of bovine tuberculosis. To some extent or other it is now 

 almost universally used and is recognized as the most reliable diagnostic agent. 

 The great problem has always been, what to do with the cattle which react, in 

 order to avoid heavy loss. In Denmark, Prof. Bang has introduced the plan of 

 keeping the reactors separate from the rest of the herd and using them for breed- 

 ing purposes, boiling the milk before feeding it to calves or other stock. This has 

 had good results in Denmark and has been adopted with partial success in otb}er 

 countries. In this connection it is important to read the words of Prof. Thomas 

 Carroll, in an address at the Anti-Tuberculosis Congress in Ireland in 1908. He 

 said: 



"It is to Denmark we must look for the greatest reduction in deaths during 

 these thirty years, and there can be little doubt now that this reduction was due (to 

 the exertions of Prof. Bang, to the measures taken by the Danish Government to 

 materialize Bang's suggestions, and to the great amenability of the Danish farmers 

 to the influence of their scientific men that works through the governmental de- 

 partments. We can learn a lesson from Denmark that even in public health co- 

 operation may be a great aid. It is perfectly clear that the important decrease in 

 human tuberculosis in Denmark was coincident with the measures taken for deal- 

 ing with tuberculosis of the animals of the farm. It has also been made evident 

 that much improvement is due to the spirit of co-operation and helpfulness which 

 exists in that country.'' 



In England, reliance is placed on the physical and clinical test, and no cow 

 suffering from tuberculosis of the udder or in which tuberculosis can be detected 

 by emaciation or a general examination is allowed to be in a herd supplying milk 

 for human consumption. In addition, many cities make bacteriological examina- 

 tions, and any milk found to contain tubercle bacilli is followed up and the herd 

 submitted to the tuberculin test. 



In the United States, the educational influence of the Federal Government 

 has been thrown on the side of a general application of the tuberculin test and a 



