534 
H. P. CLUTE. 
of the State, which rule follows the same as the larger percent¬ 
age in foreign countries, where dairying has been carried on 
extensively, and also in the Eastern States. In Denmark, when 
they began to try to eradicate tuberculosis the test showed 40 
per cent, of the cattle to be affected. In Massachusetts, about 18 
per cent., and so on down. In Wisconsin we are not so badly 
off, our percentage being about 7.29 per cent, affected. 
Out of 586 head tested, where there was known infection, 
210 animals reacted to the test, which I have slaughtered and 
post-mortemed. Out of 3223 tested where there was no known 
infection, 68 reacted. The cattle tested where there was no 
known infection were in State herds and stock for shipment, 
the larger percentage being picked milk cows for Illinois and 
were from all parts of the State. Total tested 3809, reacted, 
287. The cattle where there was no known infection being 
nearly six times greater than where the infection was known to 
be present, it is fair to presume that 7.29 per cent, is as close 
an estimate as we can arrive at at the present time. 
While the percentage is not large, it is too large to counte¬ 
nance without using the most strenuous measures to prevent 
the spread of the contagion. The contagion of bovine 
tuberculosis spreads slowly, still surely. It is hardly noticeable 
until the breeder or dairyman has a badly infected herd. It 
certainly is too large for breeders to form associations against, 
as has been done by the shorthorn breeders of Iowa, or equiva¬ 
lent to the same, an anti-tuberculin association. It is as pre¬ 
posterous as forming an association against vaccination to stop 
the spread of small-pox. 
When you contract to buy an animal for breeding purposes 
and the owner will not submit to have the tuberculin test ap¬ 
plied, rest assured the owner is afraid the animal may be affected 
and does not want to run the risk of having it known. Such 
an animal is dangerous to take into your herd ; in fact, if breed¬ 
ers would make it a rule not to take a strange animal into their 
healthy herds without submitting them to the tuberculin test, 
they have done a great deal toward the suppression of the spread 
