SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
579 
tion, he said that a Guernsey bull affected with tuberculosis was brought into a 
certain herd of cattle, and in four years there were fifteen animals affected with 
the same disease. The herd was made up of native cattle, Guernseys, Jerseys 
and grades. 
Dr. Peters said he coincided with Dr. Winchester’s opinion. Many medical 
authorities deny while others assert that tuberculosis is contagious and infectious. 
He mentioned the case recorded of a child that had died of tuberculosis, and 
neither the father, mother nor any of its ancestors ever had it, but the child’s 
nurse had for a long time been affected with it. 
In cattle the disease is more contagious, as they expectorate on the grass 
and void their excreta on the same, and in this way the grass is a vehicle of con¬ 
tagion. In time, tuberculosis will be called as contagious as glanders or anthrax. 
Dr. Winchester mentioned another case where a tuberculous cow was brought 
into a herd, and soon the entire herd was affected. 
Dr. Peters mentioned finding tubercles on the placenta. He said he thought 
tuberculosis was also congenital, as in a three-weeks-old calf destroyed he found 
many tubercles m its lungs. 
Dr. Bryden said that he was not aware that the medical profession questioned 
the contagiousness and infectiousness of tuberculosis. As comparing bovines with 
the human family, he thought that cows particularly were more susceptible to the 
contaginum than a robust person. Their mode of life is not favorable to high 
muscular organization, and their surroundings lead in one case to plethora and in 
another to other deteriorating influences. He thought it would be interesting to 
take a herd of cows and one of steers, and see which would be the most 
susceptible. 
Dr. Winchester said he would admit that surroundings have much to do 
with this disease, but we know that it is a specific disease, and the germ will 
produce it in an animal susceptible to the infection. The cause is the germ. 
Some say that tuberculosis is a disease of assimilation and nutrition, which is 
true, perhaps, but we see many cases where assimilation and nutrition are appar¬ 
ently perfect, and yet many tubercles are found in the different organs; and they 
may not have for their locations the digestive organs only, but may be located in 
the thoracic organs, while the digestive organs may be entirely free from them ; 
sometimes they are found only in the udder; in other cases in the joints only ; 
and when tuberculosis will develop itself in these different locations it is my 
opinion that assimilation and nutrition have little to do with it. It has been said 
also that the method of feeding and general care have much to do with develop¬ 
ing this disease, but it is surely found where the hygienic and sanitary conditions 
are good, as where they are poor. 
In answer to a question by Dr. Bryden if he regarded it as possible to 
develop tuberculosis without contact with or infection by another animal, Dr. 
Winchester said, in his opinion, “ you must have the seed to raise the stuff,” and 
it does not arise of itself. 
Dr.' Saunders asked if the experiment had ever been made of sending a 
tuberculous cow West into a healthy herd. The point being that our Eastern 
i climate may have a special effect on the production of this disease, and perhaps 
li it would be impossible to develop the malady among cattle in a climate less favor¬ 
able to the progress of such diseases. 
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