532 
J. F. WINCHESTER. 
characterize the occasion, and we therefore hope that many mem¬ 
bers will profit by the opportunity to gather again in the well 
remembered place of meeting with which so many pleasant as¬ 
sociations are connected. Notice of the meeting will no doubt 
be mailed in due time by the Secretary. 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
TUBERCULOSIS. 
A Paper read before the Massachusetts Veterinary Association 
By J. F. Winchester, D.V.S. 
Tuberculosis undoubtedly prevails among the domesticated 
animals over the entire globe, and has been well defined as a uni¬ 
versal panzootic. 
Its frequency depends upon various external influences as well 
as constitutional predispositions of different species and breeds. 
The centres of this malady are met with in the great centres of 
human population, and in these centres a large per cent, of tuber¬ 
culosis is found in mankind. 
This disease is of the greatest importance, since it has been 
induced experimentally in animals of different species, as carniv¬ 
ores, herbivores, and omnivores, by inoculation and feeding for 
certain periods tuberculous material from the lungs and glands 
of diseased subjects, as well as their milk. 
Since man derives a great deal, and in some instances his en¬ 
tire sustenance, from the flesh and milk of animals around him, 
we can scarcely doubt that an intimate casual correlation exists 
between him and them with regard to the disease. 
Tuberculosis has been demonstrated to be due to the bacilli 
of tuberculosis by Koch, and that the germ will re-produce itself 
innumerable times and retain its virulence. It will not multiply 
outside of the animal body except by artificial means, but it has 
been known to retain its activity in decaying sputum for forty- 
three days, and in air-dried sputum for 186 days. Death has 
taken place from the inoculation of the bacilli into susceptible 
