REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON DISEASE. 
621 
dare the injection of tuberculin to be dangerous, as well as 
iseless.’ We have already shown that it is not useless in de¬ 
leting the disease; that it is dangerous is yet to be shown 
Dy actual facts. With the thousands and thousands of doses 
)f tuberculin that have been used in this way in this State, 
ind through this country, and in Europe during the past 
our years, there is yet to come the first authentic account of 
my injury that has been done with it to healthy animals 
vvhen its use has been in competent hands. A statement of 
;his importance should not be given weight unless it is ac¬ 
companied with facts proving its accuracy. No such facts 
lave ever yet been brought forward by any person; and 
;hese statements usually emanate from sources that have 
pven the matter but little attention. An examination of the 
nethod by which tuberculin is prepared will show that it is 
mpossible for it to produce the disease, and that it has not 
lone so, the experience of the commission and many others 
n the field have clearly proved. 
“ It is further said: ‘ To kill a good, healthy cow, because 
t may have a small tubercle the size of a pea somewhere in 
he system is worse than a blunder.’ Can it be said that a 
cow that is tuberculous, though there may be but one tubercle 
he size of a pea, is a good, healthy cow, and incapable of dis- 
;eminating the disease to others? Tuberculosis is a contag- 
ous disease, and if an animal has one tubercle in it, who will 
ay that the blood is not already contaminated ? Experience 
las satisfied this commission that there is but one course to 
)ursue, and that is to destroy all of the animals in which tu- 
>erculosis is present, regardless of the degree. 
“ It is further said that ‘ The worst thing that can be said 
ibout the tuberculin test is, that it is no judge of the degree of 
he disease } and that, while its indications are correct in a great 
r ariety of cases, it frequently says that the disease exists when 
t is in such an incipient form that the animals are apparently 
veil and capable, under usual conditions, for many years of 
tseful service.’ The use of the tuberculin is merety for the 
>urpose of detecting the existence of the disease; in the opin- 
on of the commission, the degree of the disease is of no im- 
