INFECTIOUS DISEASES I27 



TUBERCULOSIS. 



Synonyms. Consumption ; pearl disease ; phthisis ; scro- 

 fula (pigs). 



§105. Characterization. Tuberculosis is an infectious 

 disease from which the human species, cattle and swine suffer 

 very extensively and which, under favorable conditions, at- 

 tacks nearly if not all species of animals including fish. It is a 

 disease of slow development, involving either primarily, or in 

 association with other organs, the lymphatic system. It is 

 characterized by the formation of nodules, or tubercles, in 

 consequence of the activities of the specific Bado iiun tubercu- 

 losis. It does not destroy life by acute toxjemia, but by a 

 chronic and long continued systemic poisoning and by the 

 morbid changes brought about through the localization of 

 these lesions in organs necessary' to life. 



§ 106. History. Tuberculosis is one of the oldest dis- 

 eases affecting cattle of which there are identifying records. 

 It seems to have been known to the Jewish people during their 

 Egyptian captivity and the ecclesiastical laws for many cen- 

 turies contained numerous enactments against the consump- 

 tion of flesh from tuberculous animals. In 1370, it was for- 

 bidden in Munich to have on sale the flesh of animals affected 

 with tuberculosis. A number of other cities passed similar 

 ordinances. In 1702, Florinus described the disease and 

 emphasized the then existing opinion that it was identical 

 with syphilis. This led to the practice of destroying all tuber- 

 culous animals. In 1783, the Berlin Board of Health rejected 

 the theory of the connection of tuberculosis and syphilis and 

 declared the flesh of affected animals to be fit for food. This 

 led finally to the cancelling of all laws throughout Prussia 

 ao-ainst the use of flesh for food from animals affected with the 

 disease. Tscheulin, in 1816, recognized in reference to the 

 infection of meat, three degrees of bovine tuberculo.sis, viz : 

 (i) in which the tubercles were to be removed ; (2) in which 

 the diseased parts were to be destroyed and the meat sold at a 

 low price ; and (3) those cases in which the lesions were so 

 exten.sive that the whole carcass must be rejected. 



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