Ea 
TUBERCULOSIS. 57 
tuberculosis ; and were such rule never violated, this disease, in their kind, would 
be one of the greatest of rarities. But of course dogs can acquire it from other 
lower animals. The tuberculosis of cows, for instance, is believed to be identi- 
cal with that of the canine and human races. But manifestly the chances for 
infection from these lower animals are less than from man; although were 
dogs fed continuously or even frequently on milk from cows well advanced in 
tuberculosis, there would be great danger of their ultimately becoming tuber- 
culous. 
The importance of excluding dogs from the rooms of sufferers from this lung 
disease rests not alone on the danger of immediate infection. Surely there is 
even the graver danger of the bacilli being conveyed back to other members of 
the family. First the sufferer dies. The dog does not show signs of the same 
fatal disease possibly for several months afterward, during which period he may 
be passing his nights on the bed of some other member. And when he fails, 
naturally he is the object of greater solicitude, and petted and fondled even 
more than when well. 
Now it is a lamentable fact that the cause and methods of infection of tuber- 
culosis are not generally understood; moreover, the germ theory is stoutly re- 
sisted by people generally, and in only comparatively few cases of this disease 
in mankind are the measures of prevention faithfully applied. Consequently it 
continues to exist ; whereas it might be nearly if not quite stamped out were rea- 
sonable and comparatively easy precautions taken, such as cleanliness and good 
ventilation of the sick-room, proper disposition of the infectious excreta, disinfec- 
tion of articles in use, and destruction of all germs of the disease after death by 
the free use of proper chemicals, whitewashing, etc., in the infected apartments. 
But this is seldom done, consequently when one member of a family dies others 
occupying the same quarters are likely to fail in health somewhat, if not in turn 
succumb to the disease. Now add to their possible sources of infection a tuber- 
culous dog, and it would indeed be surprising did he not greatly intensify the 
danger, especially for young and puny children. He would also likely directly 
infect some of his people who otherwise might not be susceptible to the malig- 
nant germs left in the cracks of the sick-room floor, wails, or ceiling. 
Therefore, to exclude dogs from tuberculous people should be the invariable 
rule. Here another rule, no less important, can be laid down, namely, exclude 
from the house all dogs which have been exposed to tuberculosis with good 
chances of contracting the disease, and destroy them at once on the appearance 
of signs that they have been infected. 
It is not necessary to dwell long on the symptoms of this disease, since they 
so closely resemble those which appear in human sufferers. A persistent al- 
though slight cough in a dog that has been exposed to a tuberculous person or 
animal should be held a very suspicious sign. Beyond this, were his appetite 
poor, did he lose vitality and flesh steadily, his coat become dry and rough and 
