Tuberculosis in Live Stock. 
9 
On the farms from which these animals came, some of the remaining 
cattle and swine are probably affected with tuberculosis, or will be if 
allowed to remain there for a sufficient length of time. Knowing 
this danger, State and Federal officials, when the identity of the 
animals can be established, trace back as many of the shipments of 
diseased animals as possible, and through the cooperation of the owner 
try to exterminate the disease from that farm. 
Table 1 . — Number of cuttle and swine slaughtered, and those retained and condemned on 
account of tuberculosis at establishments where Federal meat inspection is 'maintained. 
Cattle. 
Swine. 
Fiscal year. 
Slaughtered. 
Retained. 
Condemned. 
Slaughtered. 
Retained.' 
Condemned. 
1907 i. 
5,867,642 
24,876 
17,117 
26,189,026 
362,445 
48,544 
1908. 
7,116,275 
68,395 
24,371 
35,113,077 
719,279 
77,554 
1909. 
7,325,337 
100,650 
24,525 
35,427,931 
860,425 
45,113 
1910. 
7,962,189 
123, 501 
27,638 
27,656,021 
792,176 
28, 880 
1911. 
7,781,030 
133, 551 
27,186 
29,916,363 
1,117,789 
31,517 
1912. 
7,532, 005 
160,122 
35,273 
34,966,378 
1,643,100 
42,267 
1913. 
7,155,816 
152,560 
33,001 
32,287,538 
1,809,751 
47, 632 
1914. 
6 , 724,117 
143, 699 
29, 738 
33,289, 705 
2,201,005 
48,252 
1915. 
6,964,402 
158,239 
32,644 
36,247,958 
2,774,835 
66,023 
1916. 
7,404,288 
190,991 
37,085 
40,482,799 
3,687 817 
74,109 
1917. 
9,299, 4S9 
218,928 
46,351 
40,210,847 
3,970,168 
76, 807 
1918. 
10,938,287 
222,787 
40,692 
35,449,247 
2,494,587 
59,740 
1 Covers 9 months from October 1, 1906, to June 30,1907. 
CAUSE OF TUBERCULOSIS. 
The direct and primary cause of tuberculosis is a rod-shaped germ 
which can be seen only with the aid of a microscope of high magnify¬ 
ing power. The presence of this germ in the bodies of human beings 
or live stock is absolutely necessary to produce the disease. The 
germs of tuberculosis may also be grown artificially in proper 
material at a temperature of about 98° F. 
Outside the bodies of animals the organism is not capable of 
reproducing itself. When exposed to the direct rays of the sun it 
dies quickly — a fact to be noted in the disinfection of pastures, 
paddocks, and barn lots. The organism may live for months, how¬ 
ever, when it is protected by dry manure and other materials which 
form a crust over it and prevent its destruction by the sun’s rays. 
It is of extreme importance, therefore, to clean and disinfect thor¬ 
oughly all barns, stalls, and other inclosures which contained tuber¬ 
culous animals before healthy ones are again placed in them. 
While it is necessary for the germs of tuberculosis to be introduced 
into the body of the animal before the disease can be produced, 
there are many conditions or accessory causes which make animals 
fall victims to tuberculosis. 
Animals which are fed on nonnutritious feeds, as well as those 
that have too little feed, become weakened constitutionally and lose 
133960°—19—Bull. 1069 - 2 
