134 ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION 



Conclusion. 



With the aid of our trocar and swab we are enabled to pro- 

 cure safely and easily sputum specimens without injury to the 

 animal. 



2. To obtain the most positive diagnosis the swab should 

 be inoculated into guinea pigs. 



3. From our experiments we conclude that open tubercu- 

 losis of the lungs can be detected in most all advanced cases by 

 this method and in a few cases we were able to detect it in the 

 earliest stages where no clinical symptoms (such as cough, 

 emaciation, etc.) were present. 



4. Serous tuberculosis cannot be positively ascertained by 

 this method. 



5. The described method is a valuable one for the detec- 

 tion of open tuberculosis in cattle. Though it would seem 

 rational to destroy all tuberculous cattle, this cannot be done 

 owing to the fact that the percentage of slightly affected animals 

 is too great and the value so enormous that the state cannot 

 afford to pay for them all. It is necessary for the sanitary 

 officers to find a more economical method. 



