402 
G. A. JOHNSON. 
was early demonstrated that, as a curative remedy, tuberculin is 
a failure. But the hyperthermia that constantly followed its 
administration to tubercular patients, suggested its use as a diag¬ 
nostic agent for tuberculosis. These indications were eagerly 
followed by many investigators who were interested in the con¬ 
trol of tuberculosis in cattle, and who had up to that period been 
baffled because of their inability to diagnose the disease in its 
earlier stages. 
During the last few years the action of tuberculin on cattle 
has been studied in thousands of cases by many of the best in¬ 
vestigators of the day, all of whom pronounce it one of the most 
reliable diagnostic agents in the category of medicine. 
By the proper use of tuberculin it can be determined to 
almost an absolute certainty whether an animal is or is not af¬ 
fected with tuberculosis. 
Yet we are not making the progress that we should towards 
eradicating or even controlling the spread of this disease. 
There are two reasons for this state of affairs ; firstly, the 
ignorance of the general public upon this subject ; and, secondly, 
the fear of financial loss by many of those who have a knowledge 
of the conditions. The first steps to be taken if we would ac¬ 
complish any permanent results, is the education of the general 
public to a just appreciation of the dangers that constantly at¬ 
tend any spread of this disease, and the enactment of equitable 
laws bearing on the subject. 
THE POSITION OF THE PHYSICIAN. 
As physicians you have it within your power to wield an 
immense influence for good or for evil along both these lines. 
Good results would soon be manifest if each physician would, 
at opportune times, discuss this subject with his patrons, point¬ 
ing out to them the dangers of the use of the meat and milk 
of tuberculous cattle, and suggest that milch cows should be 
tested with tuberculin as a protection to the public, and espe¬ 
cially the family, and to prevent further loss to the herd by the 
spread of the disease. 
It has been my experience that where people have become 
