INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF CATTLE. 435 



household refuse generally, and behind tuberculous cattle. If tuber- 

 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. Tliis 

 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 

 deeply buried. 



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

 toms of tuberculosis, or when they are proved to be affected with this 

 disease by the tuberculin test, 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 of lime wash 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 from their bodies through the feces. 

 The ground under the manure pile could then be disinfected either 

 by applying the above-mentioned formalin solution or 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. 



It is unfortunately a fact that animals with tuberculosis which 

 have been tested several times may become so accustomed to tubercu- 

 lin 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 tuberculous animals 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- 



