animal to animal and from man to animals by cohabitation and inhalation of dust containing dried sputa. Many veterinarians insist on the slaughter of all suspected animals, and at the same time forbid the use of their milk or meat for food. Infection can undoubtedly be produced by constantly feeding animals with tuberculous milk or meat, but even so enthusiastic an authority as Professor Arloing acknowledges that this is the least important source of contagion. We certainly do not use such products constantly for our daily food, for the number of cattle found tuberculous averages about five in one thousand. The chief source of danger, both for animals and men, lies in the inhalation of dust containing the dried sputa, in those localities where the disease is prevalent and the population dense. Cattle kept in such localities for milk, in badly ventilated barns, are diseased sometimes as high as forty per cent to fifty per cent, and are certainly as liable to contagion from tuberculous human beings as from one of their own kind. Under these circumstances, even if we kill off all the tuberculous animals, shall we have accomplished anything? Will not cows, pigs and chickens, coming in contact with tuberculous human beings, eating their sputa and breathing it in the form of dust, again contract the disease? Pet dogs and cats have done so. In my opinion, it is waste of time, and sometimes unjustifiable destruction of property, to kill off all our tuberculous animals, unless some means are adopted by the medical profession to quarantine their own patients. In this part of the country people are beginning to have a horror of a tuberculous cow or pig, but feel not the slightest fear from direct contact with a person in an advanced stage of pulmonary tuberculosis, living in the same room, eating from the same dishes, and freely inhaling their dried sputa. Nor did I ever know a case where precautions were taken against the infection of cattle or other animals from tuberculous human beings. Now, as cattle are especially susceptible to tuberculosis, and as they have already greatly benefited the human race by furnishing it with the means of lessening the ravages of the smallpox, and as cattle are affected with tuberculosis in the largest percentage where they are kept for milk in localities where the percentage of the disease is also very great, I enter a plea that the severity of the crusade against them be somewhat lessened, until some steps are taken by the medical profession and boards of health to quarantine human beings suffering from tuberculosis. I wish it understood that I believe tuberculosis to be a very contagious disease, but slow in its course. Every one will acknowledge that the danger from the milk and meat is the very least. The milk is diluted by that of healthy cows, under which circumstances even direct inoculation often fails; and the meat is only diseased in five cases in one thousand, and then is generally cooked. The danger from inhalation of dried sputa in the dust is very great either from man to man, or man to animals. Therefore, let us wait a little before we condemn all the cattle and other diseased animals; for, even if we eradicate the disease among them themselves, they will contract it again from man. If these views and suggestions of Dr. Lee are worthy of consideration as a guide to action, it would be the height of absurdity to attempt to rid the State of tuberculous animals by taxing the people to pay for all that might be suspected of having the disease or of having been in some way exposed to it. If the disease, even now, were as prevalent as some have asserted, it would require millions of dollars to begin an undertaking which could give no promise of a satisfactory ending. The Commissioners believe that the magnitude of the evil and the danger attending it cannot be too fully realized by cattle. Owners or consumers of cattle products, nor can the truth be known too soon. Tuberculosis does exist to a greater or less extent among the cattle of the State, and has existed among cattle herds for thousands of years. It can be kept in check or eradicated only by understanding and observing the influences which permit the continuance of its existence. This work, to be successful, should be entered upon by all. The Jews, who make the inspection of meats a religious duty, are nearly exempt from this disease. Boiled milk and thoroughly cooked meats are approximately free from the germs of any form of microscopic poison. If the tons of cheaper parts of beef which are daily sent to the fertilizer mills, because the American taste or fashion calls only for the choicer cuts for serving rare, were properly cooked, the people would save thousands of dollars on their meat bills, and at the same time escape a constant danger of contracting diseases through the consumption of uncooked flesh. Many who have traced the connection between tuberculosis in cows and consumption in human beings have for years insisted that no uncooked milk shall be used upon their own tables. Boiling not only removes the danger of disease, but boiling and immediate cooling adds greatly to the keeping qualities, particularly in hot weather. There are said to be thirty different forms of bacterial life, not all harmful, found in milk; but cooking destroys all. The course indicated for the safety of the farm herds is to secure a stock of healthy animals, and then breed a sufficient number of young to fully supply the home demand. A purchased creature coming from an unknown quarter always may be a source of danger. The oft-repeated story of those who find the disease in their herds is that "I bought a cow that was thin in flesh and looked badly, but I thought she would improve on my keeping. But, instead, she grew worse and died, and now some of my other cattle have that same bad look." Never, on any consideration, breed from an animal of either sex on which there is a shadow of suspicion as to health and vigor of constitution. Whether tuberculosis be directly hereditary, or not, a weak constitution most surely is, and such animals have little power to resist diseases if in any way they are exposed to them. Feed generously, but do not pamper, nor confine animals in too close and ill-ventilated stables. The Commissioners find the most disease where the stables are narrow and tightly boarded up in front, so that the breath of any sick animal must be more or less mingled with that of all the others over and over again, with no sufficient inflow of fresh outside air. Keep a sharp lookout for the earliest signs of disease, and, if possible, separate into a comfortable stall any animal that threatens danger to the herd. If an occasional animal must be purchased for breeding or other purposes, and its history is uncertain, keep it apart till its character for health is reasonably assured. Allow no consumptive persons to have the care of herds of cattle, remembering that the expectorations from a diseased person, falling upon the food of animals, may become a boomerang that will hit back to the source from which it started. By observing these rules constantly, the danger to the live stock interests of the State from contagious diseases will be reduced to the minimum, while the demand for healthful animal products will be greatly increased to the advantage of all. A. W. CHEEVER, Secretary. To Boards of Health of Cities and Towns. BOSTON, May 12, 1890. In accordance with the spirit and intent of the foregoing paper, the undersigned issue the following regulation: In all cases of suspected tuberculosis among cattle coming to your notice, you will hereafter instruct owners to cause the separation of their suspected animals from the remainder of the herd, and cause their isolation, and allow the unsuspected animals to be managed in all respects as if no disease had been present. LEVI STOCKBRIDGE, A. W. CHEEVER, O. B. HADWEN, Cattle Commissioners of Massachusetts. It can but be noticed that the powers and duties of boards of health under existing law, and the requirements of our regulations, extend only to the control of the cattle supposed to be infected, and the abatement of a nuisance similar to the one mentioned at Medford. The sale of the milk and meat of such a herd is controlled by the provisions of chapter 58 of the Public Statutes, which, however, is not in force unless the city council or the inhabitants of the town vote to adopt the same. Most of our cities have complied with this requirement, but few, if any, of our towns. We therefore recommend that the following article be inserted in all the town warrants, to be acted on at their next town meeting; viz., to see if the town will vote to adopt the provisions of chapter 58 of the Public Statutes, enabling the selectmen to appoint an inspector of provisions and of animals intended for slaughter. This article being adopted, and an inspector appointed, legal control of the cattle and of the meat and milk will be secured, the former by the board of health, and the latter by the inspector; and the Commissioners will give active assistance to each of these classes of officers. Early in December we received the following communication from Dr. Durgin, chairman of the Board of Health of Boston, transmitting a letter from Dr. Lyman, dean and professor of the Veterinary School of Harvard University, as follows: BOARD OF HEALTH, 12 BEACON STREET, BOSTON, Dec. 1, 1890. To the Honorable Cattle Commissioners. GENTLEMEN : We have to-day received a letter from Dr. Lyman, dean and professor of the Harvard Veterinary School, upon the subject of increasing rabies among dogs, a copy of which we herewith enclose. Dr. Lyman is qualified to speak with authority upon this subject, and his letter is entitled to our serious attention. The order of the Honorable Cattle Commissioners, issued in February, 1888, requires the local boards of health, when notified of the existence of any contagious disease among domestic animals, to cause such animals to be securely isolated, and held till released by order of the Commissioners. With most of the diseases among domestic animals the execution of these orders would be sufficient; but with rabies we have a disease running so short a course, and attended by such serious consequences before the animal can be restrained, that it would seem wise, if possible, to secure some previous action by which the liability to cases of rabies may be lessened, and their existence more readily detected. We are not quite certain that the desired action comes within the authority of the Cattle Commissioners; but whatever can be done should be done throughout the State, and, if not ordered, at least recommended, by the Commissioners. If agreeable, this Board would respectfully request a conference at such time and place as may be determined by your Board. The Board of Health, SAMUEL H. DURGIN, Chairman. VETERINARY DEPARTMENT, HARVARD UNIVERSITY, Dr. S. H. DURGIN, Board of Health, City of Boston. DEAR SIR: -There is no doubt whatever that rabies has been existing in this community certainly since some time in February, 1888. During the whole of this period a large number of dogs have been brought to the veterinary hospital, that we have looked upon as showing the symptoms of rabies, and that have died rabid. The assertion that the dogs have died rabid is not made here upon the foundation of the symptoms shown and results of post-mortem examinations alone, but upon the additional fact that, in a number of the instances, carefully and thoroughly conducted laboratory work has proved its existence without doubt. In connection with the existence of rabies among the dogs, and to some extent the other animals, there have been every now and then distressing occurrences among the people, coming from the bites of rabid animals, and ending too often in the death of the victim, accompanied always by a long-continued agonizing fear in the minds of the bitten ones and their families. It seems to me that it is time that some properly organized effort to end this epizootic should be made. There is no doubt that the means of spread is very largely to be found in the existence with us of a class of semi-ownerless animals; for, if a dog that has rabies has also the interest and kindly care of his owner, he is seen to be ill before the dangerous period arrives, and so the chances of his being allowed to run "a muck" are reduced to almost nothing. Perfect control of the spread of rabies is to be attained in our community only as a result of well-organized and carefully maintained State action. This action should take the form of com |
