TUBERCULOSIS. 427 



culosis is common among cattle, it is likely to be transmitted to hogs 

 kept in this way. 



The carcasses of animals which have died of tuberculosis should be 

 buried deeply so that they can not be eaten by other animals. This 

 is likewise true of all organs or tissues of slaughtered animals con- 

 taining tubercles. These should never be fed to other animals, such 

 as hogs, dogs, and cats, and should either be destroyed by fire or 

 deeph' buried. 



When any of the animals in a herd of cattle show evident symp- 

 toms of tuberculosis, or when the tuberculin test proves that they 

 are affected with this disease, the best method of procedure in most 

 cases is to have the affected animals slaughtered and the stables dis- 

 infected. A large proportion of the animals which are slightly 

 affected yield carcasses which are perfectly wholesome and fit for 

 human food, but in all such cases there should be an inspection by an 

 expert at the time of slaughter to determine which carcasses may be 

 used and which should be destroyed. 



The disinfection of stables may be accomplished by thoroughly 

 cleaning them, scrubbing the floors with hot water, brushing down 

 all loose dust from the walls, and tearing off all woodwork which is 

 partly decayed. Then the whole interior of the stable should be 

 covered with a good coat oi limewash containing 1 part of formalin 

 (which is a 40 per cent watery solution of formaldehyde) to 30 parts 

 of the lime wash, or 4 ounces of formalin to each gallon of lime wash. 



Similar precautions should be observed in removing the manure of 

 the infected herd from the barnyard and other places accessible to 

 cattle, since it is known that tuberculous cattle frequently eliminate 

 large numbers of tubercle bacilli through the feces. The ground 

 under the manure pile should then be disinfected, either by the 

 above-mentioned formalin solution or by unslaked lime thickly 

 sprinkled over the soil. 



If all the animals which react are destroyed and the stables dis- 

 infected in this manner, the herd should remain free from the disease 

 unless other affected animals are added to it. The introduction of 

 the disease in this manner may be avoided by requiring a tuberculin 

 test of all new animals admitted on the premises. 



Unfortunately it is a fact that tuberculous animals which have 

 been tested several times may become so accustomed to tuberculin 

 that they will no longer react; consequently it is always advisable 

 to purchase cattle from some one who is known to be reliable, as 

 otherwise animals of this kind may be treated with tuberculin for 

 the purpose of hiding the disease. 



In the case of very valuable thoroughbred animals, it may be more 

 advantageous to retain the reacting animals which are in good con- 

 dition in order to breed from them and in that manner avoid the 



