496 



Suppression of Tuberculosis. [oct., 



16 -2 per cent. Dr. Bang considers that his experience in 

 Denmark shows the isolation system to be perfectly sound as 

 a method of transforming an infected herd into a perfectly 

 healthy one. The system, however, works slowly, and demands 

 a clear conception of the nature of tuberculosis, as well as 

 perseverance and care in carrying out the rules. The fact 

 that it needs to be followed for a series of years occasionally 

 causes farmers to lose interest in the matter after a time, 

 with the result that the system is not always satisfactorily 

 carried out. There is also a certain difficulty in securing proper 

 isolation, especially where the proportion of reacting cattle is 

 large. This, however, is rather a question of trouble than 

 expense, and Dr. Bang gives numerous examples of cases, 

 both on large and small farms, where completely healthy herds 

 have gradually been built up ,at no appreciable extra cost. 



In this connection it may be mentioned that an agricultural 

 association, called the Tuberculin Association, has been started, 

 the aim of which is to increase the interest in the acquisition 

 and maintenance of herds of cattle and swine free from tuber- 

 culosis. In September, 1906, the association had 105 menbers, 

 owning 2,300 cows. To be a member it is necessary that the 

 farmer should have his live stock tested with tuberculin, and 

 that this live stock should be found sound or partly sound. 

 In the latter case it is required by the association that the sick 

 animals should be effectively isolated from the sound, in the 

 manner prescribed by the society.* 



Norway. — The gratuitous distribution of tuberculin by the 

 State in Norway began in 1892, and in 1895 a Government 

 grant of £550 was made with a view to the systematic extirpa- 

 tion of tuberculosis. 



The method adopted is described in a circular letter from the 

 Director of the Norwegian Civil Veterinary Department, dated 

 7th April, 1905, which states that the presence of tuberculosis 

 in a herd is to be reported to the authorities by the owner, who 

 is forbidden to take suspected animals to markets or shows or 

 to common pasture, but such animals may be sold for slaughter. 

 Permission to have a herd tested at the public expense is 

 granted on application by the owner, who must undertake — 

 (1) To isolate the tuberculous animals from the remainder of 



* F.O. Report, Annual Series, No. 3862. 



