456 
J. F. WINCHESTER. 
light, combined with cleanliness, proper drainage and ventilation, 
is necessary to maintain and create a constitution capable of 
resisting disease. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease, and with 
the means we have to diagnose this malady, there cannot be 
any excuse why the products of tuberculous animals should be 
used for the benefit of man. 
In a brochure issued by the State Board of Health of Massa¬ 
chusetts (May, 1894), it is admitted that the milk from tubercu¬ 
lous animals is a menace to the health of mankind, and it should 
be proscribed. In regard to the meat of such animals, they 
recommend its thorough boiling, although they do not feel con¬ 
fident that it will cause the disease, since clinical evidence to 
that effect is not in existence. Since tuberculosis is a prevent¬ 
able disease, undoubtedly there are cases that will recover. 
This being a fact, why allow or sanction even the use of tuber¬ 
culous meat, when it is known that the ptomaines or tuberculin 
which exists in the flesh of tuberculous anijnals is not destroyed 
by boiling, and if introduced into the system of a tuberculous 
individual, will excite the activity of the disease. It is not 
desirable to ameliorate a case of tuberculosis after the possibility 
of prevention has passed. It is admitted by the producers of 
vaccine virus that the bovines that are used for its production 
should be in a normal condition, and that for this reason they 
are examined, by a veterinarian in some instances, and at other 
times by a supposed to be competent man. 
In an article in the Boston Medical Surgical Journal for May 
3d, on production of vaccine virus, no evidence is shown that 
tuberculin is used. Then of what value can be an opinion as 
regards the existence of tuberculosis in occult form. One firm 
uses mature animals in order that the lymph may be richer in 
germs, while the other (of the two firms examined) use young 
animals that are less liable to be diseased. In neither of their 
establishments does it appear that the product of each animal 
is kept by itself, and the animal killed allowed of an examina¬ 
tion to establish the fact of its normal condition. 
In conclusion, let me congratulate the State Board of Health 
A 
