112 
TUBERCULOSIS. 
placed with the diseased cattle show upon post-mortem 
examination the initial lesions of this malady. 
In answer to those who contend that this disease was caused 
by improper feeding, or lack of sufficient ventilation and 
exercise, it is only necessary to remind you that tuberculosis, like 
small-pox and similar diseases, is a specific malady; one that can 
only be spread by coming in contact in some way with its special 
and determined infecting agent. 
The assertion that cotton seed meal had anything to do with 
the origin or spread of this disease is simply ridiculous. 
Taking into consideration, then, the facts that a very large 
proportion of the herd (all, we might almost say) were affected 
with a disease communicable not only from animal to animal, but 
from animal to man ; that in the future, death after death would 
occur yearly ; that scarcely by any possibility could calves be 
raised from any of these cows that would reach maturity free 
from this pestilence ; that animals purchased elsewhere and 
placed with this herd would (as past experience proves) soon 
become diseased; and that the barn itself is now infected, and 
must be left vacant for a considerable period ; parts of it (floors, 
etc.,) removed and burned, and a thorough and repeated disinfec¬ 
tion be restored to,—it becomes apparent to all, I think, that the 
only safe and proper course to pursue was the one advised, i. e., 
the slaughter of the entire herd. 
Some of the meat might have been used as food had it not 
been for the prejudice that was so generally felt against it. For 
some time it has been impossible to sell even the butter from 
these cows and I was assured by everyone likely to know, that 
under no circumstances could a pound of the butter be disposed 
of now, or even months later. 
The swine on the farm that had been fed largely on the milk 
of these cows, were examined, and one pig nearly a year old was 
killed and carefully examined, but no traces of tuberculosis could 
be detected. The butcher who kills the pigs raised on the farm 
states that in some instances the liver has appeared diseased. la 
conclusion I can only recommend that when other animals are 
purchased care be taken to buy from herds where this disease 
