FQ QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Juxny, 1899. 
where; and it may well serve as a source of encouragement for pressing forward 
the work that has thus been commenced, though some change be made in the 
conditions under which State aid shallin future be provided for the elimination. 
of the bovine disease. 
It must be added that the lectures and demonstrations given by Mr. 
Cameron on the living animal and at the post-mortem in the different localities 
where the investigations have been undertaken have proved of the greatest 
importance and value, as shown by the numerous reports given thereon in the 
Press, and by the fact that numerous owners of cattle have been induced thereby 
to have the test applied by competent persons to their own stock. 
D. A. GRESSWELL, M.A., M.D., Oxon., Chairman. 
18th March, 1899. 
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF PUBLIC HEALTH, VICTORIA, BY MR. §, 8. 
CAMERON, M.R.C.V.S., VETERINARY INSPECTOR TO THE BOARD, ON 
TUBERCULIN AS AN AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF BOVINE TUBERCULOSIS. ° 
During the eighteen months prior to September, 1898, on directions from 
' the Board, I subjected a number of dairy cattle, constituting the whole of the 
milking cows in 9 herds in widely separated parts of the colony, to the 
tuberculin test, the objects having been to demonstrate the value of the test as 
an aid in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, and to obtain some information as to the 
extent of the disease in the dairy cattle of the colony. Though the number 
of herds—9—and the number of cattle—267—forming those herds are not so 
numerous as to furnish a sufficient basis for estimating the extent of the disease 
in the colony, it may be remarked that the herds were, as already stated, in 
widely separated parts of the colony; that the animals comprising these herds 
were mostly young cows or cows in their prime, and above the average of dairy 
cattle in breeding, in condition, and milking qualities ; and that the owners volun- 
tarily submitted them to the test on the understanding that all those that might 
re-act would be destroyed, so that there is likelihood that the proportion of 
tuberculous animals foundin the 9 choice herds tested—viz., 9 per cent.—is not 
in excess of that for dairy. cows in the colony at large. 
I shall give, first, the particulars concerning each herd, and then some of the 
lessons to be derived from the results of the investigation. 
I.—PARTICULARS CONCERNING THE SEVERAL HERDS THAT WERE TESTED. 
Table A sets out the number of herds and of cows tested, the number 
and proportion that re-acted, the number slaughtered and examined, and the 
localities where the investigations were conducted. 
Tanne A, 
GiviInc MAIN PartIcULARS AS TO THE SEVERAL HERDS TESTED. 
; . ote No. of Cows | No. and Percentage of Cows that No. of Cows 
Herds Locality. Tested. | gave Definite Re-action. Slaughtered. 
ce = } eee. ee : Nerarsree 
| No. Percentage. 
1 Leongatha... br: iM 51 } 5 9°8 5 
2 Kyneton ... + ? 20 | 1 50 1 
3 Carlsruhe ... v5 cha 8 | 
4 Sale... rt 3 ~ 46 | 
5 Tatura 2. se! xt 25 1 5 20°0 4 
6 Terang ... +t, Pe 58 3 51 \ 3 
7 Warrnambool _... $4 39 | 9 23°0 9 
8 Warrnambool... | 13 | 
9 Leongatha... nc ae 7 | 1 143 1 
| en me aoa | gene , 
Total sae le enner | eemee 07 24 | 9°0 23 
