TUBERCULOSIS 249 



appear in two forms, the acute and the chronic. An animal 

 attacked by the acute form shows rapid decline and dies 

 in a few months. In the chronic form the diseased animal 

 may live for years and yet show no outward signs. It is the 

 insidious nature of the disease that makes it so dangerous. 



The disease is spread by inhahng or swallowing the germs 

 which are given off from the body of affected animals. 

 The disease may also be contracted from the milk of dis- 

 eased animals, especially if the udder is affected. Human 

 beings, especially young children, may contract the disease 

 from the milk of tubercular cows ; and pigs may contract it 

 in like manner, or by consmning waste around infected 

 regions, and eating offal and .carcasses of tubercular cattle. 



Incipient tuberculosis in animals has no outward symp- 

 toms, though in the advanced stages of the disease there is a 

 general appearance of unthrif t, such as a staring coat, a list- 

 less eye, a hanging head, drooping ears, lack of ambition, 

 loss of appetite, a hacking cough, and general emaciation, 

 even though the animal be well fed and cared for. There are 

 many other diseases that have the same general s5Tnptoms, 

 but there is an infalhble test for tuberculosis known as the 

 tuberculin test. If the animal responds to this test it should 

 be. killed, as there is no absolute cure. 



Prevention. — In order to keep the disease out of a herd 

 there are certain rules that should be followed. All new 

 animals brought into the herd should be tested before being 

 placed with the herd. Animals reacting to the tuberculin 

 test should be eliminated from the herd. Well-ventilated 

 and well-Hghted stables should be provided and kept well 

 disinfected with some good disinfecting solution. 



The tuberculin test should not be applied to a herd except 

 by a skilled veterinarian or other competent person. 



