THE VALUE OF TUBERCULIN. 
343 
the neighboring people. The bull had been assigned the entire 
barn and the general appearance of all the cattle was vigorous 
and healthy. 
We stated to Mr. Shedd that it was not our practice to de¬ 
stroy animals simply upon the result of the tuberculin test with¬ 
out other evidence of disease. To this position strong exception 
was taken by the owner of the cattle, who expressed a very de¬ 
cided opinion that the cattle should be destroyed. After a 
lengthy discussion of the matter, Mr. Shedd offered to contri¬ 
bute the ten reacting animals free of cost for the purpose of an 
experiment to determine, as far as possible, the proper course to 
take with cattle in a similar condition. This generous proposi¬ 
tion was accepted by the Commissioners, with the understand¬ 
ing that at the end of one year a report of results should be 
made to the public and, if advisable at that time, the remaining 
animals in the experiment should be killed and examined. 
Some idea of the generosity of the gentleman in contributing 
the cattle can be obtained from the fact that these ten animals 
were easily worth $1000 if sound, and, according to the law of 
appraisal for condemned animals, would have cost the State 
$500 if destroyed. The ten animals were taken to Andover 
June 25, and the year having expired we make a report in ac¬ 
cordance with the agreement. 
The nine cows were placed, upon an isolated farm where 
they were given such sanitary treatment for the promotion of 
health as any dairy cattle should have. This includes good 
ventilation, light, exercise, and moderate feed. These animals 
were kept in the open air both day and night, except in stormy 
weather, and for six months the milk of the entire herd was 
thrown away or fed to pigs. When these cattle were brought 
to the town some objections were raised on account of endan¬ 
gering other herds, so intense was the fear of tuberculosis, but 
there being no objection on the part of the adjoining land own¬ 
ers, there was little attention given to this unnecessary scare. 
The bull, owing to his size and strength, was kept in another 
section of the town where he could be properly handled. These 
animals were tested with tuberculin by a disinterested veterina¬ 
rian September 12, December 9, February 23, and those not 
previously killed. May 9. Five of the ten animals passed the 
test successfully September 12, and five, including the bull, 
failed to pass. Owing to the inconvenience and expense of 
keeping the bull, and the supposition on the part of a few peo¬ 
ple that he was badly diseased, he was killed soon after the test 
