344 
THE VALUE OF TUBERCULIN. 
ill September, altliougb there whs iro previous indicHtiori of 
diseHse from sl ca.refiil physica .1 exa.mina.tion. He was killed foi 
the purpose of experiment and carefully examined by a veteri¬ 
narian in the presence of many people, but the examination 
failed to reveal any more evidence of disease than can be found 
in a large percentage of the cattle in the country to-day. It was 
so infinitesimal as to require no consideration upon any health 
' basis and was strong proof of the extravagance in destroying 
animals by the test alone. 
Only three of the nine remaining animals failed to pass the 
test applied December 9, and in one of the three the disease had 
developed sufficiently to be detected by physical examination, 
and was condemned. These three were isolated from the 
balance of the herd and their milk thrown away. _ They were 
again tested February 23 with no material change in the result, 
and were taken to Concord March 29 and destroyed and ex¬ 
amined in the presence of many witnesses. The one condemned 
by physical examination was found to be a well-developed case 
of tuberculosis and should be destroyed. Although the other 
two, killed at the same time, had failed to pass the test, there 
was no physical evidence of disease and they were destroyed for 
the purpose of ascertaining their condition and for the informa¬ 
tion sought in the experiment. After a very thorough post¬ 
mortem examination by a veterinarian, slight evidence of 
disease was finally found, but it was even less than that found 
in the bull and was in such condition as to lead to the conclu¬ 
sion that it had not only been arrested but was on the way to 
ultimate recovery. How much this result was due to the treat¬ 
ment of the animals and how much to the alleged curative 
qualities of tuberculin is a matter of conjecture only. There 
are no developments of science in regard to the nature and 
characteristics of bovine tuberculosis that warrant the destruc¬ 
tion of such animals. 
The remaining six animals were tested with tuberculin 
February 23 and May 9 3-iid all passed the test each time. 
Their condition from a physical examination has the appearance 
of perfect health. Since December 15 they have been in pos¬ 
session of a farmer who has fed and cared for them for their in¬ 
come, thus incurring no expense to the State. To all ap¬ 
pearances and from any form of examination they are as 
healthy and vigorous as any cattle in the State. 
The year for which the experiment was undertaken having 
about expired, the following correspondence recently passed 
