TUBERCULOSIS IN*« CATTLE. SI 
one by one, it was found by post mortem examination that 
quite a number of these animals that had in earlier years re- 
acted to tuberculin test and had failed to react in later years 
showed that they had actually had the disease, but that the 
disease had been arrested, the animals had apparently recovered 
completely, and at the time of slaughter were in a healthful con- 
dition so far as concerned this disease. Now, it is impossible to 
fail to draw the conclusion from such facts that it is entirely 
needless to slaughter all animals that react from tuberculin, 
when we remember that many of them would still live for 
years without any advance of the disease, and others would 
probably completely recover. It is simply a question whether 
these animals can be prevented from contaminating the rest 
of the herd. 
Various suggestions have been made in connection with the 
building up of a healthy herd. One is that no person shall 
purchase animals that have not been inoculated and by this 
test proved to be healthful. There is no question that this de- 
serves the very greatest emphasis and should be most highly 
recommended. It is certainly true that our farmers, as a rule, 
buy their tuberculosis. The herd, originally free from the 
disease, is increased by purchase of animals that have not been 
tested, the purchased animals bring the infection into the herd, 
distribute it, and in a short time the farmer suffers. It can 
not therefore be too strongly emphasized that the farmer, if he 
wishes to keep his own herd in a healthful condition, should, 
where it is possible, insist that the animals that he buys shall 
be first tested with tuberculin and proved to be free from the 
disease. It has been suggested, also, in agricultural circles in 
Europe, that a general rule should be adopted that no pre- 
miums should ever be given to animals in the agricultural 
exhibits until after the animals are inoculated with tuberculin 
and proved to be free from the disease. Of course the animals 
which obtain the premiums are of special value and will in the 
future be used for breeding. If, therefore, no premiums are 
- given except to animals that are tested and proved to be non- 
reacting, there is here one strong safeguard against the further 
distribution of the disease. 
There is, however, at the present time prominently before 
all agricultural communities, as well as scientific men, one 
method of dealing with the tuberculous herd which appears 
. to be not only moderately successful but quite satisfactory, 
and gives promise of the most excellent results with a mini- 
