4G4 
FRED. W. PORTER. 
head of dairy cattle that had reacted to the thermal test. The 
work was done under the direct supervision of the veterinarian 
for the Florida State Board of Health, who was present by the 
request of the Mayor of Tampa, and in the presence of the city 
milk inspector. The intra-dermal test was used by and with the 
consent of all interested parties. 
The accompanying table will show the comparative results of 
the two tests. The intra-dermal test was made within a day or 
two of six weeks later than the thermal test. I attribute the ap¬ 
parent variance largely to tick infestation. Even our home cattle, 
which are practically immune to tick fever, will carry some tem¬ 
perature and show a falling off in condition when our warm 
weather comes on and the tick becomes virulent. The concen¬ 
trated tuberculin used was furnished by the Mulford Company, 
as were the special syringe and needles used. Where reactions 
were had, they w 7 ere very pronounced, even a novice would have 
no difficulty in recognizing them; if there Avas no reaction, the 
evidence was just as plain. 
These cattle were part of the herd of an Italian dairy and 
from past experience I expected to be pretty well kicked about. 
But I found it quite otherwise; of the sixty head, only one w r as 
at all restive and she not bad. Whereas, with the inoculation at 
the shoulder one must look out for a blow from the head, as well 
as dodge that hind foot that can reach the ear. The advantage 
of the intra-dermal test to the owner is, that it in nowise disturbs 
the regular routine of his dairy nor does it excite the cattle by 
unusual handling. Consequently there is no decrease in output. 
To the practitioner there is the very much simplified technique, 
the small number of necessary visits, no thermometer to break 
and the reactions are to one condition only. Personally, I con¬ 
sider that a very careful physical examination should precede 
either test. 
I had hoped to have obtained the thermal readings of these 
cattle, as taken when the old method was used, so as to have 
given the results in tabulated form. This I have been unable to 
do. 
