THE BOARD OF HEALTH AND TUBERCULOSIS. 
35. 
Infection and antoinfection, from the spntnm or other in¬ 
fecting excretion, is a perpetual menace or danger from tuber¬ 
culous subjects, either human or animal. But if all the infected 
sputum or excretions could be subjected to disinfection the dis¬ 
ease could be speedily reduced to a possible minimum. Some 
investigators have found that a 3 per cent, solution of carbolic 
acid will destroy the bacilli in a day, when dissolved in a saturated 
solution of salicylic acid; or in a 1:1000 of mercuric chloride in 
ten minutes ; or in thymol in three hours ; or in a bright sun¬ 
light the germ dies in a few hours, or in ordinary daylight in a 
week. But when left in an ordinary stable it may live three 
months. Notwithstanding this knowledge, its liability to the 
miscarriage of the several methods is too uncertain a factor in 
eradicating the disease, as Koch ascertained that the bacillus re¬ 
tains its vitality and infecting power for nine or ten months in 
dried expectoration. It is, therefore, wise and justifiable in 
boards of health in establishing rigid regulations against tuber¬ 
culous infection in both the human and animal subject. But 
further legislation will be necessary to make essential rules for 
stamping out the disease in dairies and breeding herds. Tuber¬ 
culous milk infects the calves, pigs, dogs, cats and fowls, if not 
boiled before feeding. And if these hardy and hearty farm ani¬ 
mals are thus infected through milk, how much more serious is 
the infection of delicate children and adults. 
By breeding out the malady by larger, stronger, healthier 
stock, in the increased value of the better and more valuable 
grades, the destruction of the diseased stock is immediately com¬ 
pensated for in the enhanced value of the new herds. Not only 
by the importation of healthy animals, but by the judicious se¬ 
lection of breeding animals of all of the breeds free from disease^ 
having stronger constitutions, and greater fitness for the special 
products bred for, our herds will soon be reared to a higher and 
more profitable standard. 
The boards of health control the hygienic necessities of hu¬ 
man habitations, and it is just as essential that milk and meat 
animals should come under the same sanitary regulations, for 
