1 Jury, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 123 
Scientists tell us that if a tuberculous cow licks her calf it is likely to contract 
the disease. The official records show that out of 200,000 calves killed at the 
abattoirs in Berlin only four out of that number were found to be affected with 
tuberculosis. Pigs are also supposed to contract this disease from the milk of cows 
so affected. It isa well-known fact that pigs fed on separated milk are the freest of 
all from disease, while those to which no milk is fed, are found to suffer the most from 
tuberculosis. 
I could give a number of facts in this connection, though I would rather have a 
good discussion than write a long paper, as no doubt more good will result from the 
opinions of many. 
Tf milk is injurious, then why do our medical men recommend its use? We must 
conclude that they find it to be beneficial. And we certainly see those who, from 
fever and other causes, are laid at the very gate of death, and whose vital powers and 
power of resistance are at the lowest ebb, yet from the use of milk are brought 
ae again to health, strength, and happiness. According to scientists, the use of mill 
ought to have snuffed out the flickering light of life. In passing, I may say that one 
of the American veterinary surgeons has tried to convey this disease to calves by 
feeding to them milk from cows known to be affected with tuberculosis. Up to the 
present time he has been unable to succeed. Some of them were killed when eighteen 
months old, and were found to be free from disease. J may also say that our Mr. 
Pound has changed his opinion on this subject during the last two years. 
I would like to hear the opinion of the members of this Conference on the subject 
of the tuberculosis test which we are told will be forced upon us by the Government 
in the near future. Personally, I cannot see the good results which are supposed to 
follow its use, I can see many unnecessary losses, besides an enormous expense to the 
State. And if it were possible to destroy every animal affected with this disease, we 
would have another lot to destroy in six months’ time. We cannot find any class of 
animals, or fowls, or birds, whether domestic or wild, which are free from tuberculosis. 
There is no country in the world in which it does not exist, and the Americans have 
abandoned the attempt to eradicate it from their herds. 
We also find climatie conditions have an influence upon it, for where the con- 
ditions are cold and damp, or where there is a heavy, humid atmosphere, as in low 
ppamy, country, there tuberculosis is found to abound. We find 17 per cent. at 
St. Helena, and only 2 per cent. on the high, light, dry tableland of the State. The 
percentage for Germany is 12 per cent., and in some countries much higher. 
T have used the tuberculin test for a few head from which I wanted blood for 
inoculation. JI will describe the method:—The animal is tested at 6 a.m., 12 noon, 
and 6 p.m., when the tuberculin is injected. The test is taken the next morning at 
6 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 noon, 3 p.m., and again at 6 p.m. Now, we may say that five 
minutes is not too long a time to allow for testing each animal. We thus get twelve 
in an hour. Thus an inspector will have to work from 6 o’clock on Monday morning 
to 7 o'clock on Saturday night to apply the test to thirty-six animals; and the 
tuberenlin will cost 18s. If we knew the number of dairy cattle in the State, 
we could then tell how large an army of inspectors we should require to go 
through our herds every six months as visepaedh The cost would be somethin 
enormous. The cost would be not less than 3s. per head for every animal tested. 
What will be the use of testing them unless the affected ones are destroyed ? If they 
are destroyed, who will bear the loss ? 
Now, I will admit that if these animals are a menace to the health and life of 
the people of the State, then the Government is in duty bound to protect and safe- 
guard the interests of the people, regardless of expense or loss. But I maintain that 
this test is unnecessary, for an amimal may be affected with tuberculosis and yet not 
be suffering from it. I would like vou to note this distinction, for, until an animal 
suffers from it, I believe the product is good because the health is good; and when the 
health fails and the system is breaking up or wasting, then the animal had better be 
removed, either to be destroyed or to be put under treatment with a view to recovery. 
T will suggest a plan by which we can, I think, do some good. I would 
divide the State into. say, five districts, and appoint a practical veterinary surgeon 
for each district, whose duty would be to visit every dairy and farm in his 
district and inspect all the cattle, and those which show outward signs of disease 
ought to be destroyed or removed from the others and put on trial, and an effort 
made, by suitable treatment, to restore them to health again. I would even go a step 
further, and suggest that an experiment hospital be established in each district where 
affected cattle could be placed under special treatment by the veterinary surgeon. 
We have, in the Wide Bay and Burnett districts, diseases which, up to the ptesent 
time, have baffled all efforts to combat, and, no doubt, this applies to other parts of 
