746 
THE RURAL' NEW-YORKER: 
October 29 
\LIVE stock| 
AND DAIRY . 
THE USE OF TUBERCULIN. 
THE COMMON SENSE OF IT. 
I read with much interest Mr. Charles 
E. Parker’s letter on tuberculosis, in The 
R. N.-Y. of June 25. It seems to me, 
however, that his objections to the use 
of tuberculin because it is not reliable 
under every possible condition that may 
be encountered in its use, are not well 
taken. If the conditions under which it 
will not react were unknown, the case 
would be different, and we would be 
truly groping in the dark; but being 
known, also being ones under which the 
desired result may be obtained by differ¬ 
ent methods, any objection to the use of 
tuberculin on their account is not valid. 
Is there any known chemical, or re¬ 
agent, or machine (unless it be the polit¬ 
ical machine in Pennsylvania !) which 
will always produce its characteristic 
result under any and every condition ? 
Would Mr. Parker disavow the practic¬ 
ability of electricity because it operates 
only under certain known conditions, 
and is useless unless the circuit be com¬ 
plete? Would he question the useful¬ 
ness of the steam engine because it will 
not run without water at the required 
temperature, or deny the explosive 
quality of gunpowder because, when 
damp, it is harmless, or the possibili¬ 
ties of photography because the plates 
have to be manipulated in red light ? So 
it is with tuberculin—it will not act un¬ 
der certain conditions, but, as I have 
said, these being known, and being such 
as to allow us to arrive at a practical re¬ 
sult without it, its general usefulness is 
not damaged in the slightest. 
Cattle which are so badly diseased as 
not to react can be detected by a physi¬ 
cal examination, and those which are 
near their calving can be set aside to 
wait until afterward. Mr. Parker says 
that out of 5,275 cattle killed in Massa¬ 
chusetts, ICO were innocent of any dis¬ 
ease, and that he has the best of evi¬ 
dence that 75 per cent of all were so 
slightly affected as to be perfectly 
healthful for milk or meat. If his first 
statement is correct, the result is widely 
different from that reached in Pennsyl¬ 
vania, where cattle killed by the State, 
after reacting, have never, I believe, 
failed to show the disease. If I recol¬ 
lect rightly, Secretary Edge told me last 
Fall that, so far, they had not made a 
single mistake. I can recall that, when 
I had my cattle tested and five out of 
six cows killed and cut open before a 
large crowd, one of those present wrote 
to one of the papers saying, “ Three 
were killed, and two of these were hard¬ 
ly affected at all,” whereas, in four of 
the five cases, the disease was present in 
a generalized and disgusting condition— 
nearly curing me of my milk-drinking 
proclivities. 
There can be no question that it would 
be a good thing (as tending to lessen 
opposition) if tuberculin would accu¬ 
rately indicate the exact condition of the 
animal, but I for one would far prefer to 
shut out every animal from my herd that 
showed any trace of the disease. My rea¬ 
son is that, while a slightly affected ani¬ 
mal may possibly not be dangerous in 
that condition, yet we do not know at 
what moment the disease may become 
worse. Neither do we have any guaran¬ 
tee that an animal slightly diseased 
might not easily contaminate another 
whose constitution was especially sus¬ 
ceptible, and furnished a good medium 
for the speedy development of the bacilli, 
with the result, possibly, of eventually 
infecting the whole herd. 
We must not lose sight of the fact that 
disease germs are, practically, seeds, and 
like other seeds, require suitable soil 
and favorable environment for their 
growth, so that, where one cow, or man, 
can be contaminated and escape, or at the 
worst, only be slightly affected, another 
under the same conditions would, after 
infection, speedily lose his life, and in 
addition, infect others before dying. It 
is, therefore, imperative for those who 
believe in the eradication of tubercu¬ 
losis, not to be beguiled into letting 
slight^ diseased animals remain in their 
herds, as they havo no guarantee as to 
the disease-resisting capabilities of the 
others. 
Mr. Parker should not object to tuber¬ 
culin on the ground that it is not used 
for the purpose for which it was invent¬ 
ed. That it has been found useful in 
another sphere does not detract from its 
merit. Many of the medicines we use 
with beneficial effect were first discov¬ 
ered through their poisonous — often 
deadly — effects on their discoverers. 
Doubtless, many farmers are opposed to 
it, as he says, but I would call his atten¬ 
tion to the fact that many of the best 
breeders are now advertising “ tubercu¬ 
lin-tested stock,” and I for one would not 
buy any other ; I purchased five cattle 
last Spring from a drover, “ subject to 
inspection,” and two of them were con¬ 
demned. 
It may be refreshing to Mr. Parker to 
read Dr. Frothingham’s opinion, but, on 
the contrary, I felt it decidedly depress¬ 
ing. For a man who poses as an expert, 
to make the statements quoted, in the 
face of the results of the investigations 
of the hundreds of scientists in this 
country, and all over the world, who 
have stated positively, for several years, 
that numerous cases of tuberculosis have 
been traceable directly to milk, his posi¬ 
tion as an “ expert ” is untenable. More¬ 
over, it has been indisputably proved by 
experiments on animals that tubercu¬ 
losis can be transmitted by milk. It, 
therefore, rests on the opponents of 
transmission through milk to prove, in 
every case where milk has been used and 
the patient has tuberculosis, that such 
tuberculosis has not been caused by the 
use of the milk. For instance, if a man 
die of arsenical poisoning, and his well 
be found full of Paris-green, it would be 
considered proof that that was where he 
got the poison ; I doubt whether the 
coroner would try to examine the case 
much further. 
The curious part in the stand taken 
by those who object to the theory of 
tuberculous infection through milk is 
that they invariably inveigh against 
scientists and doctors in general, and 
veterinarians in particular. Then they 
do not hesitate to produce the statement 
of one or two individuals from the ranks 
of the despised profession to prove that 
there can be no danger at all from tuber¬ 
culous cattle. Why should their state¬ 
ments be of any more value than those 
of any other doctor unless it be that 
“ Men believe only what they wish to 
believe” ? 
In this case, Mr. Parker says that Dr. 
Law practically asserts that this disease 
is transmissible from ox to man, and 
from man to ox. He then quotes Dr. 
Smith “an eminent authority” (Pray, 
doesn’t that title fit Dr. Law, also ?) as 
“having fairly demonstrated the con¬ 
trary”. He then says, “ Have we not a 
reasonable right to infer that, if the 
disease cannot be transmitted from man 
to animal, the converse also is true ” ? 
No! Most decidedly, no! We have no 
right, as intelligent men, to set up a 
mere inference against the work and 
statements of men like Dr. Law. Would 
Mr. Parker infer that, because the rabid 
dogs running around the country have 
not got their rabies from men, men do 
not contract the disease from the dogs ? 
Or that, because men have not been the 
means of infecting horses afflicted with 
glanders, they will not be infected by 
a glandered horse? Or—to carry it 
still further, to show the folly of infer¬ 
ence as to cause and effect—would 
he infer that, because a man did not 
mash a horse’s foot by treading on it, 
that a horse would not cripple a man ? 
Inferences should not be indulged in in 
cases where we have facts and accurate 
statements concerning them. To “infer” 
anything in regard to tuberculosis, when 
one considers all the State reports on 
file, and the numerous publications on 
the same subject, is to admit that one is 
too lazy or too careless to go to the root 
of the matter. 
I do not believe that there has ever 
been in any instance, as in this tuber¬ 
culosis question, such popular discredit¬ 
ing of scientific results (I say results— 
not statements) as has been done by irre¬ 
sponsible individuals with M. D. ap¬ 
pended to their names. The mere ex¬ 
pression of disbelief on the part of one 
of these generally unknown individuals 
has been entirely sufficient utterly to 
overthrow the proved results of the most 
eminent men, who have been working 
for years on the subject. I do not deny 
that it has some opponents that stand 
well, and are men of learning, but there 
are always opponents to be found to 
every question. For instance, one of the 
best doctors in this State opposed for a 
long time the use of antiseptics, and 
would not use them in surgical opera¬ 
tions. When Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes 
first claimed that puerperal fever was a 
deadly and contagious fever under cer¬ 
tain circumstances, the very idea was 
flouted, and he was laughed at, whereas 
he came to be known as one of the great¬ 
est benefactors of the human race. And 
so it goes. 
Let us try to be a little more logical 
in considering this tuberculosis subject, 
and accept as fact the majority of evi¬ 
dence; then if, in time, this changes, we 
can change with it. But certainly we 
cannot deny actual results, and state¬ 
ments made by men like Dr. Law, for 
the mere say-so of some irresponsible in¬ 
dividual—without stultifying our intel¬ 
ligence. Especially so, as the facts can 
be had by every one, and there is, there¬ 
fore, no excuse for ignorance. 
Pa. GEORGE RHYFEDD FOULKE. 
GUERNSEYS. 
225 purebred Gueruseys of the best American 
and Island breeding. Butter average, whole 
herd, 318 pounds per head. No catalogue. Come 
and make your own selection. 
ELLERSLiE STOCK FARM, 
RHTNECLIFF, N. Y. 
AT FARMERS’ PRICES I 
Two Registered Jersey Bull Calves 
from superior dairy cows. 
R. F. 8HANNON. 907 Liberty Street, Pittsburg, Pa 
Clearview Stock Farm. 
J KR8KY Hull and HelferCalves, all ages. 
BEUKSHIRKS. all ages, both sexes, for SALE. 
J. S. CAMPBELL, Butler, Pa. 
GUERNSEYS 
8 cows; 1 heifer, now due; 4 
heifer calves, from 4 to 8 mos.; 
1 bull 5 weeks, and 1 bull 12 mos., and 1 bull 10 mos 
A. .1. SNYDER. Plumsteadville, Pa. 
Cf|D Q A I C-A one-year-old Short-horn Bull 
rUfl OnLu and a few Dorset lianas. 
Prices low. A. 8. EAGLESON, Washington, Pa. 
C HENANGO VALLEY STOCK FARMS. Greene, N 
Y.—Dutch Belled and Jersey Cattle; Dorset and 
HambouiMet Sheep; Poland-China, Jersey Red and 
Suffolk Digs; White and Bronze Turkeys. Peafowls, 
and Blooded Chickens. Seed Wheat, $2; Rye, $1; best 
in the world; hags free 
BLOODED LIVE STOCK 
Sheep —Oxfords, Shropshircs.Soutli- 
downs. Fancy Poultry. Pigs— 
Bcrkshires, Poland-Chinas, Chester 
Whites, Yorkshires. Catalogue free. 
H. L. HOLMES, Harrisburg, Pa. 
Hamilton & Co.. 
Reg. P. Chinas, Berkshires 
and Chester Whites. Choice 
large strains. 8 week Pigs not 
akin; Service Boars and Bred 
Poultry. Write for hard 
times prices and free circular. 
Cochranville. Chester Co., Pa. 
PURE POLAND-CHINAS ETSS'SUK'. 
quicker than others; low priced enough to be In reach 
of all. F. H. GATES & SONS, Chittenango. N. Y. 
IMPROVED CHESTER WHITES 
of the best breeding and all ages for sale at reason¬ 
able prices. Pamphlets and prices free. 
CI1AS. K. RECORD. Peterboro, N. Y. 
3,000 TRAINED FERRETS drive rabbits, 
etc. Cheap. Rook care and working free. Safe arrival 
guaranteed, s. & L. Fauns worth, New London, o. 
FOR SALE. 
White Wyandotte Cockerels. Choice birds. $2 each. 
L. C. TAYLOR, Lima, La Grange Co., lnd. 
It has nearly a seventy year record ot cures, certi¬ 
fied over the signatures of many prominent people— 
Jayne’s Expectorant. 
If bilious take Jayne’s Painless Sanative Pills.— 
Adv. 
ON THE BIAS. 
That's the «ecret of the G/A Bias Girth Hors* 
Blankets. The girth is on the bias^-that means 
croHned. It works automatically. The blanket 
can't slip. If yon pull one side, the other side 
keeps the blanket from sliding, and yet it doesn't 
bind the horse. He couldn't displace it if he 
rolled in i t. 
® Bias Girth 
[ Horse Blankets are made in all styles—to fit any 
I horse— to suit any purse. Ask yonr dealer for 
’ 5|\ Bias Girth Blankets, and look for the trade 
mark. A book on the subject sent free. 
W M. AYKE8 JL 8 ON 8 , Philadelphia. 
A POCKET 
FULL OF.. 
MONEY 
that is what the agents are making 
who are selling the 
Automatic Grip 
Neck Yoke. 
It insures positively against accident 
should the traces become detached 
from any cause. May be the means of 
saving your life or that of your family. 
Plain unnickeled, $1; Nickeled Loops 
ami Acorn Heads, tl.50; Nickeled Tips 
and Centers, 1.75; Nickeled Centers and Tips without 
Yoke, 81.25; Centers without Yoke, 65c. Made in 3 sizes, 
to lltpole tips V/Z to IX. Also farm wagon size to grip 
pole V/i to 3H in size. Extensively advertised. THEY 
SELL AT SIGHT. Send to-day for illustrated circu¬ 
lars and special confident In! terms to agents. 
AUTOMATIC GRIP NECK YOKE CO., 
It llardlng Street, Indianapolis, lad. 
Strong 
and 
well 
made. 
Will 
last 
indefi¬ 
nitely. 
Before Buying a New Harness 
KING 
Send 4o in (tamps to pay postage os 
Lpage Illustrated Ostades of Custom 
ad. Cak Leather Harness,sold direct 
to the consumer at Wholesale prioes. 
100 STYLES TO SELECT FROM. 
We manufacture our own work and 
■ can save you money. 
HARNESS CO., 82 Church St., Owego, N. Y. 
Newton’s OilW nCTT? 
Improved 
Holds them firmly, draws 
them forward when lying 
down, pushes back when 
standing, gives freedom 
of head, keeps them clean 
E. C. NEWTON CO. 
Batavia, Ill. Catalogue Free 
Cows barren 3 years 
MADE TO BREED. 
Moore Brothers, Albany, n. y. 
POULTRY 
* We keep everything in the POULTRY LINE, ♦ 
♦ Fencing, Feed, Incubators, Live Stock, Brooders ♦ 
♦ —anything—It’s our business. Call or let us* 
• send you our i 1 lustrated catalogue—it’s free for • 
A the asking—It’s worth having. A 
♦ Excelsior Wire and Poultry Supply Co., ♦ 
* 28 Vesey Street, New York City. ♦ 
♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦ 
WEAR 
an Incubator and then i 
diaC 
not do it. 
like «tartlng right. 
If you want to *tart right 
and vtay right buy the 
Reliable Incubator. 
Made so the veriest novice can’t fail 
with it. Light the lamp, the Reliable 
does the rest. We send a 224 page 
book for 10c in stamps that tells all 
It and the Reliable Poultry Farm. 
RELIABLE INCB. k BROODER CO. Box B 101. Oolncv, 111. 
Cata¬ 
logue 
4 eta. ' 
L < 
THE UOPROVB0 
VICTOR Incubator 
i Hutches Chickens by Steam. Absolutely 
self-regulating. The simplest, most 
reliable, and cheapest first-lass Hatchsr 
In the market. Circulars FREE. • 
3EO. EltTEL CO., QUINCY, ILL. 
OES MOINFS 
IFE PRODUCERS 
SUCCESSFUL INCUBATORS. 
LIFE PRESERVERS 
SUCCESSFUL BROODERS. 
Vll about them in our 148-page cata¬ 
logue. Mailed for 6 cents In stamps. 
IBATOP CO.. Box 90 Dcs Moines, la 
Tha Mode! Mill 
A hand mill for grinding grain, 
dry bones, shells, Ac., tor feeding 
chickens, &o. Three sizes, weight 
30, 34 and (12 lbs. The most rapid 
grinding, most durable and 
cheapest mill made. If youi 
dealer doesn’t keep It, address 
THE C. S. IJELL CO., 
Hillsboro, Ohio, U. S. A. 
CALCITE FOR POULTRY. 
Bone Meal, Crushed Oyster Shells, Crushed Flint, 
Granulated Bone. Ground Beef 8craps. Send for Price 
List. YORK CHEMICAL WORKS, YORK, PA. 
DESTROY MITES WSE2 
with LAMBERT’S DEATH TO LICE. 
SPECIAL sample, will kill amllllon, XOe. postpaid. 
Book on Poultry keeping FUEE with every order. 
D. J. LAMBERT, Box307, Apponaug, R. I. 
Trade 
Mark 
LUMP JAW 
NOW CURABLE. 
Surely, quickly and for good. 
Fleming Bros., chemists, Un¬ 
ion Stock Yards, Chicago, 
have a remedy that quickly 
cures the most obstinate 
cases. Supplied by mail under 
a positive guarantee. JPrlce, 
*2.00. Valuable Information 
and full particulars FREE. 
