TUBERCULOSIS. 399 



appreciable part of the tuberculosis that affects man is obtained through 

 his food. 



The circumstances and conditions with regard to the tuberculosis in 

 the food-animal which lead to the production of tuberculosis in man are, 

 ultimately, the presence of active tuberculous matter in the food taken 

 from the animal, and consumed by the man in a raw or insufficiently 

 cooked state. 



Tuberculous disease is observed most frequently in cattle and in 

 swine. It is found far more frequently in cattle (full grown) than in 

 calves ; and with much greater frequency in cows kept in town cow- 

 houses than in cattle bred for the express purpose of slaughter. Tuber- 

 culous matter is but seldom found in the meat substance of the carcase ; it 

 is principally found in the organs, membranes, and glands. There is 

 reason to believe that tuberculous matter, when present in meat sold to 

 the public, is more commonly due to the contamination of the surface 

 of the meat with material derived from other diseased parts, than to 

 disease of the meat itself. The same matter is found in the milk of cows 

 when the udder has become invaded by tuberculous disease, and seldom 

 or never when the udder is not diseased. Tuberculous matter in milk is 

 exceptionally active in its operation upon animals fed either with the 

 milk or with the dairy produce derived from it. No doubt the largest 

 part of the tuberculosis which man obtains through his food is by means 

 of milk containing tuberculous matter. 



Provided every part that is the seat of tuberculous matter can be 

 avoided and destroyed, and provided care be taken to save from contami- 

 nation by such matter the actual meat substance of a tuberculous 

 animal, a great deal of meat from animals affected by tuberculosis may 

 be eaten without risk to the consumer. 



Ordinary processes of cooking applied to meat which has got con- 

 taminated on its surface are probably sufficient to destroy the harmful 

 quaUty. They would not avail to render wholesome any piece of meat 

 that contained tuberculous matter in its deeper, parts. In regard to milk 

 we are aware of the preference by English people for drinking cow's milk 

 raw — a practice attended by danger, on account of possible contamination 

 by pathogenic organisms. The boiling of milk, even for a moment, would 

 probably be sufficient to remove the very dangerous quality of tuber- 

 culous milk. 



Tuberculosis in Equines. 



Tuberculosis is not very common in the horse, but when it does 

 occur, it is frequently mistaken for glanders. There may be miliary 

 tuberculosis in the lungs, or nodules disseminated throughout the 

 lungs, liver, spleen, and bones. In a number of cases investigated 

 by Nocard, the disease commenced in the abdominal organs, and 

 the affection of the lungs appeared to be secondary. The author 

 has examined several cases of equine tuberculosis. In some cases 



