CALVES AND TUBERCULOSIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1494, 17 July 1912, Page 10

CALVES AND TUBERCULOSIS.

. TEST THE CALVES OKI' THE BUCKET. As an object les-on in tuljcreuloMs, Mr. .Max Henry, -M.K.C.V.S., New South Wales Cuivorninent Veterinary Surgeon, reports an instance in which n number nf .sturdy, apparently healthy, calves reacted to the tuberculosis test, which calves, when pcslmorleined, were all found to );e alVected, some lu a considerable extent. One vas ali'ected on (lie pleura, in the lungs, «n<| ill the bronchial lymphatic glands; a stcuud in the lungs, bronchial and mediastinal glands; and the others in the mesenteric lymphatic glands. This is cue of the methods in which tuberculin can be of (he greatest service. Had these calves not beet tested More being turned out with (lie other young cattle, the chances are that they 'would have acted as distributors of tlm disease sooner'cr later. Mr. Henry ndds-.—"One of the most economical methods of dealing with tuberculosis is undoubtedly to test the calves as they come off the bucket, and before they aro put out into the paddocks, as in this way the. farmer would be continually reinforcing his herd with healthy stock. For'there is.no doubt that a very fair percentage of animals become affected with tuberculosis while they aro still calves, but show no symptoms for years after, although all the time they may act to a greater or le.'s extent as centres of infection. The loss sustained by killing any calves which reacted would be far less than that sustained by killing adult cattle." •