416 DISEASES OE CATTLE. 



benefited by the injection of tuberculin. The cases of abortion fol- 

 lowing 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 abortion 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 coincidence, 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 $30 per head for common 

 stock or $60 for registered stock. Such legislation should also include 

 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 

 inspected and passed for food, and from the hide and offal of those 

 carcasses condemned as unfit for food, should be applied as part pay- 

 ment on the indemnity for their respective owners. The payment of 

 indemnity for tuberculous animals is a good business policy and would 

 do more toward making the tuberculin test popular with cattle owners 

 than any other possible action. And as a corollary of the latter more 

 testing would be performed, and more tuberculous cattle would be 

 discovered at the start, but the gradual suppression of the disease 

 would soon be manifest, as has been noted in Pennsylvania and Den- 

 mark. Furthermore, as Stiles has mentioned, if tuberculosis can be 

 eradicated from dairy herds with but slight loss to the owner, the 

 increase in the price of milk would naturally be inhibited, and the 

 children of poor families would consequently be in less danger of 

 having this very important article of their diet decreased. 



From the investigations and observations that have been mentioned, 

 it may be safely concluded — 



1. That the tuberculin test is a wonderfully accurate method of 

 determining whether an animal is affected with tuberculosis. 



2. That by the use of tuberculin the animals diseased with tuber- 

 culosis may be detected and removed from the herd, thereby eradi- 

 cating the disease. 



