424 DISEASES OF CATTLE. 



are most susceptible to the injurious effects of tuberculin. After 

 using this test regularly for two years, Mr. Edwards wrote as fol- 

 lows: 



I have seen nothing to lead me to believe that the tuberculin test had any 

 injurious influence on the course of the disease. It is by no means our opinion 

 that the disease has been stimulated or aggravated by the application of the 

 tuberculin test. All animals that we have tested two or three times continue 

 as hale and hearty as they were previously, and not one animal in our herds 

 has broken down or failed in any way since we began testing. 



Mr. Edwards, in December, 1901, verbally stated that his views 

 as to the harmlessness of tuberculin remained unchanged, and that 

 he had not seen the least ill effect in an}^ of his cattle from its use. 



Those who have had most experience with tuberculin have failed 

 to observe any injurious effects following its use upon healthy cattle. 

 With tuberculous cattle it produces a fever of short duration, and in 

 the great majority of cases all derangement of the system which it 

 causes disappears within 48 hours after the tuberculin is adminis- 

 tered. There appear to have been a very few cases in which the dis- 

 ease was aggravated, and a greater number in which it was benefited 

 by the injection of tuberculin. The cases of abortion following the 

 tuberculin test have not been numerous, even when cows were tested 

 within a few weeks of the normal time of calving. The few cases of 

 this kind which have occurred may be explained by the fact that 

 abortion in cattle is a very common occurrence, and that it would 

 inevitably happen sometimes after the tuberculin test as a mere coin- 

 cidence and without any relation between the test and the loss of 

 the calf. The cases of abortion which have been cited appear to be 

 no more numerous than might be expected to have occurred among 

 the same number of cattle within the same period if the test had 

 not been applied. 



Most of the objections to tuberculin would probably be removed 

 if some method of compensation for the reacting animals could be 

 devised. Thus, in Pennsylvania, where tuberculosis is being eradi- 

 cated with more success than in any other State, and where there are 

 usually three times as many voluntary requests on file for the appli- 

 cation of the test as can be made, all reacting animals are paid for 

 by the State. As the suppression of tuberculosis is a public-health 

 measure it would appear perfectly logical for the State governments 

 to reimburse cattle owners for animals condemned and slaughtered. 



Provision could be made to pay 70 per cent of the appraised value 

 of the condemned animals, not to exceed $50 per head for common 

 stock or $150 for registered stock. Such legislation sliould also in- 

 clude a requirement for the testing of all cattle coming into the State. 



All tuberculous animals should be slaughtered in abattoirs having 

 Federal inspection, and the money obtained from carcasses which are 



