480 
THE TUBERCULIN TEST IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
bly due to stranger’s presence. Abruptly it slacked to almost 
normal, but about every fifth beat was skipped. 
Prognosed no recovery, but as owner wanted him given 
every chance, ordered him at pasture, and daily administration 
of digitalis and potass, iodide. One week later, found no flutter¬ 
ing (he was probably used to my examination), but heart beats 
were even more irregular. Diagnosed valvular disease of heart. 
Like the horse with the thrombus, how many of us would pass 
him for sound. 
THE TUBERCULIN TEST IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
REPORT OF THE EXPERTS EMPLOYED BY THE LEGISLATIVE 
COMMITTEE. 
{Contmued from page 4iidj 
We conclude this month the voluminous report of the 
special joint committee of the Massachusetts Legislature ap¬ 
pointed to investigate and report upon the findings in a large 
number of cattle in the vicinity of Lowell which had been con¬ 
demned by the Cattle Commissioners under the tuberculin test. 
In the July issue appeared the majority and minority reports of 
the committee ; the August number contained the reports of 
three of the five veterinarians employed as experts—Drs. Krnst, 
Smith and Kinnell; the September Review printed the report 
of Dr. Billings, while this October number concludes the entire 
document with the findings of Dr. Charles R. Wood. 
REPORT OF CHAS. R. WOOD, V. S. 
Lowell, Mass., May 6, 1897. 
To the Honorable Committee of the Senate and Hotise of Representatives, Commonwealth 
of Massachtisetts. ^ 
Gentlemen :—In sending you my report of the examina¬ 
tion of the cows killed by your order at the Brighton Abattoir, 
I will say that, of the number killed, a large percentage was so 
slightly affected with tuberculosis as to give one the impression 
that so much wanton destruction of meat was little less than 
farcical. 
Any animal exhibiting tuberculosis to any marked extent 
without any question whatever should be destroyed, and the 
meat condemned as an article of food ; but when the percentage 
of tuberculous matter is so small as to be determined only by 
the aid of a powerful microscope, the percentage of poisonous 
element must necessarily be very small, and the liability of 
