One of the most important epochs in sanitary science is marked by the recognition of the influence upon bumauity of the health or sickness of animals, Simultaneously we cannot but note the advance into the circle of recognised professions of the veterinary surgeon, who, from the mere "horse doctor," has become a highly valued specialist, alike ofinestimable service to humanity and the animal world. he investigations of Koch, the great German—bacteriologist, Pasteur, his French colleague, and others have brought about a scientific revolution, demonstrating that our health is as inch dependent upon what we may call the domestic animals as upon the state of our water or drainage. In this connection an article in the last number of the Nineteenth Century is of interest, but it is invested with more importance when we think of the pro-. blems with which the Manicipal Coun-oils on. both sides of the Yang-king-pang have declared their intention to grapple, viz., the state of our dairies. The article is entitled "Consumption in Cattle Conveyable to Man," the writer being Mr. James Long.
To begin with, he points out that the cattle disease known as tuberculosis is identical with consumption in wan, and when it is udded that probably more lives are annually lost through the consumption of tuberculous milk than would be occasioned by war with a first-class -Power, the se: sus nature of the question is brought vividly before us, This dreadful disease may be acquired by man by the consumption of meat—especially beef—and the produce of affected beasts, It is estimated, moreover, by those best in a position to judge, that twenty per cent of home cattle are affected with the disease, and what the percentage in a country fike China must be, where the most elementary rules of sanitation are defied, lias yet to be ascertained. Even in New York State, Professor Law has found a maximum vf 98 per cent infection in herds and a minimum of 5 percent, It may be asked how the disease is detected. By what is known as the tuberculin test, a discovery we owe to the genius of Koch. The lymph, prepared under the most exacting of conditions, is injected into the system of the suspected animal; if tubercle is present reaction follows, the temperature subsequently falling. Of course suspicion has been cast upon the test by the li opponents of modern methods, but it has come out of the ordeal very successfully, and under proper supervision has met with astonishing results. When a herd is tested the animals which react are isolated, and in all but. serious cases rapidly fed for the butcher; the milk they produce, with some exceptions, may he sterilized by boiling and employed for the purpose of feeding calves or swine, The diseased animals having been removed, the'stalls in which they have been fed are thoroughly disiufected, and every precaution taken to guard against the communication of; the disease to the healthy beast, And yet the picture of even some of the home dairies isa disgusting one as drawn by Me. Long, for lo says: "If the consuming. public were in a position! to see the. conditions under which} milking is performed on thousands of farms by men with unwashed hands, on dark winter mornings, just as the cattle rise with manure-soiled udders from their beds, in dark, close, and badly drained houses, they would exercise greater precaution in the selection of their milkman, These conditions, which of themselves ure sufficiently disgusting, are precisely those in which the germs of such diseases as consumption multiply with the greatest rapidity."
After describing the American precautions, the writer adduces authority for the contention that milk from tuberculous cows, even though there may be no local evidence of disease, "is capable of communicating consumption. The Danish Government appear to have adopted the most satisfactory measures for the protection of cattle, and Dr. Bang, who has had charge of the work since its commencement in 1891, as the result of his discoveries is astounded at British apathy in the presence of so deadly. an enemy. In concluding an article, of which this is but an inadequate summary, the writer treats of the necessity of public abattoirs, and suggests the remedy for the state of things undoubtedly existing "Inno English city. is better work done in the control of food than in Manchester; nevertheless in 1894 72 entire carcases of cattle were condemned in consequence of their: being badly affected with tuberculosis. In 1895 the number rose to 98, and in 1896 to 108. Where the disease was localised, portions only of each-carcase were ce demned, and these are not included in the figures, 'I'he whole of these animals were apparently healthy and purchased in the public market. 'I'he chief Veter-mary Inspector of the city recently made a special examination of 398 animals, with the object of ascertaining, as far as possible, the relative percentage of affected cases in each sox. He found in all 111 tuberculous, of which 96 were cows and heifers. Of these 37 were affected in the organs of the abdomen ow in 1 thorax and abdomen. Of the 398 animals examined 168 were cows; of these 56 came from local cowsheds, while 112 were Welsh, Irish, and Scotch, purchased in local markets. Of the 56 cows no less than 69 per cent were diseased, and of the 112 cows, 28 per cent were diseased. Such are the cattle which supply the milk for our tables, At the request of a local farmer the Inspector examined a small herd of, 18 cattle, and concluded that 17: were diseased.: Thirteen of these were slaugh-
of the-carcases, the udder being tuber-culeus in four. In one of these cases, twin calves having fed upon. the milk, they were slaughtered at only five days old, and also found. to. be diseased.". In one of the cows, in which no tubercular lesions were found, there was a diseased condition of the lungs of.a parasitic character, In-another instance two cows were examitiéd by the.request' of the Medical Officer of Health, with the.result that, reaction following inoculation with tuberculin, they were accordingly slaughtered, and in each case tubercle was found in the udder, What form the Report of the Royal Commission will take we wust wait to see, but it will assuredly wore than confirm the now general belief that tuberculosis is not only a terrible scourge to the farmer, but a growing danger to human life—a danger. which published evidence alone shows to be real and deadly, What is the solution of the problem so fur as cattle are concerned There is:—
(1) Systematic inspection andslaughter of all diseased animals, (2) Inoculation with tuberculin and slaughter, followed by payment, of the appraised value of every animal slaughtered.
(3) Gratuitons. inspection, inocnlation, and advice, by Government officials, and general encouragement.to isolate and periodically test. the apparently healthy animals, fattening and selling off those which react until a herd is free.
"'l'o the first suggestion farmers would not submit. Slaughter, however, is.an esseutinl feature of any scheme, even though it be applied only to the worst cases, hut it should be accompanied by compensation, especially-at the hands.of government: which so justly recog-nisses rights in property, 'A dairy.farmer whose herd was condemned might be ruined under other conditions, losing his cattle-and his custom at a blow. It should not, however, be..possible for a farmer to regard compensation as a source of profit, and yet payment should be sufficiently liberal to secure. his cooperation, without which no. scheme could succeed. Under existing conditions the disease.is concealed. where it is known to exist, but were loss, prevented by a well-considered law it would be disclosed, and united efforts made to eradicate it, and to protect. the public, who should be more willing to pay in such a cause than to add an additional ironclad to the navy. We do not ignore that fact. that compensation might induce the uuscrupulous to take. less care of their stock, and even to buy diseased animals for re-sale to the State; nor is it impossible that farmers might rely. upon the belief that their cattle were practi—cally insured by the Government, hose objections are, however, trivial when contrasted, with the enormous issues which are involved, "The fact.rpmains
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.