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THE TUBERCULIN TEST IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
THE TUBERCULIN TEST IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
REPORT OF THE EXPERTS EMPLOYED BY THE LEGISLATIVE 
COMMITTEE. 
(yContmuedpage JJ4.) 
Having published in the August Review the reports of Drs. 
Krnst, Smith, and Kiiinell, we present in this number the 
lengthy one of Dr. Billings, which, with that of Dr. Wood, to 
be published in the October issue, will complete the report made 
to the Legislature of Massachusetts by its special committee. 
REPORT OF FRANK S. BILLINGS, M.D. 
Grafton, Mass., May 5, 1897. 
To the Honorable Members of the Massaclmsetts Legislahire, appointed to examine cer- 
tain cows fro7n Lowell and vichiity which had been subjected to the tuberculin 
test,” and to enoa^e “ experts” to co7idtut such an exammation, as to the reliability 
of the test." 
Gentlemen. —In accordance with your request, I was pres¬ 
ent and took part in the examination of 130 milk cows, 129 of 
which, it was claimed, were tuberculous by the tuberculin test, 
said examination having taken place on April 13, 14, 15 and 21, 
and again on May 4 of 20 cows selected from those “ which did 
not react” from the same farms as those previously examined, 
and beg herewith to submit to your honorable consideration the 
accompanying report. 
The study of the results of our examinations forces the fol¬ 
lowing conclusions:— 
I. That, if the position of the extreme bacteriologists and 
that of the Massachusetts law on the subject be scientifically re¬ 
liable, and founded on nndispntable fact, and every cow (or 
bovine) in which one solitary tubercle is found, on the most ex¬ 
act observation at slaughter, is to be considered as “ dangerous 
meat,” and unsalable for human food, and in life such a cow is 
'dangerous as a milk-producer to those who should consume her 
milk,—then I say that the tnbercnlin test is a failure and de¬ 
ceptive, and as dangerous a snare as the disease is claimed to be, 
for we have seen that it let seven ‘‘ vile sinners ” escape. 
In this connection it is an nndispntable fact that, if bovine 
tuberculosis is as dangerous to cattle and man as claimed by 
some and endorsed by the Massachusetts law, both species would 
long since have perished off the face of the earth, according to 
that beneficent and infallible principle, the survival of the fit 
and gradual destruction of the unfit. 
