TUBERCULIN TESTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1644, 10 January 1913, Page 8

TUBERCULIN TESTING.

AN EYE-OPENER FOR IMPORTERS. In dealing: with tuberculosis testing of cattle for the Argentine, tho 'Tarmer and Stock TBrccder" (London) has the following, which is of interest to stock importers at this end:— "It Beems very uneatisfaotory to be told officially that something like 25 per cent, of exported animals that have been tested in Great Britain should prove tuberculous when submitted to similar t<;sts on the other side. The loss to exporters is terrible, ami it looks very much like bungling on ono side. Of 15 bulls reported upon by Mr. Alfred Marston, M.R.C.V.S., at Buenos Ayres, ono only seems to have ■ alfoixled any exclise for - not discovering the disease on this side of the water.- He is generous enough to say that /no doubt the tests were honestly carried out by tho . practitioners employed, .but there must be something wanting somewhere.' . "It would not seem to be a question of 'honesty,' but rather of capacity to mako ; careful observations, and if duly qualified men .fail in; tuberculin'testing, how much I the more likely will be those, lay inoctilatoi's. who .wish 'to'carry through the test themselvas.i: A roan bull, marked No. 86 , on horn, proved to have no diseased ■ glands, and his slaughter is pretty,rough on the exporter; but others .with a clean : bill of jhealth were found to have 'ad-vanced-tuberculosis,' 'tuberculosis of glands of. testicles,' 'tuberculosis of throat, intestines/ and testicles,' 'generalised tuberculosis of old origin,' 'tuberculosis of and liver of old : origin/ aiid so on. In the cases of 'old origin' one cannot understand why the .characteristic reaction was not obtairied'if the right material was employed.' - .These did not develop in two or threo weeks of travel by tea and . land.;. ; 1 - . "Mr.'Marston says:. 'Of course, it is ob- ; vious that in. many,:cases the animals must have been tampered with before tho tests were, made.', Most.breeders will agree with, him:in' thinking:that: 'the,only re- • medy .is on official testing station underobservation.' If ,the Argentine Govorn- • ment would set up such a station on this side, ami employ its own officials to make , a.test, Svhich should'give entry-ns 'clean' on the other side, exporters,would be willing* to pay a fee, that might be charged , to the insurance side of'the business." 5 .It'is interesting to note iin . the nlxive ■ connection that all live stock shipped to New. Zealand from the port of London :is ekamibw by>the New; Zealand veterinary, officer,.who, by arrangement,'also'acts in : this capacity for the' Government of tho Commonwealth of, Australia. 'Further, this' officer's 'services (aro'-always available" to any-.'New; Zealand -importer'for tlie purpose,of applying tho tuberciilin test to any cattle proposed to' be purchased in. Great Britain,- a: reasonalile fee being charged; •Last year this Veterinary officer examined the, following stock.'for export to' the Dominion:—26'horses, 16 bulls, 10 heifers, - 1. cow,: 21 .rams, 71 ewes, iind 39 dogs,' as' well as 13 horses, 21 dogs, and 3 heiferg ' for 'the Commonwealth 'of Australia; . Except' nnder very/ special circumstanpes, the animals are'again tested on arrival here, so that if dosing is resorted to before the test is applied in London it'is detected at this end. ' \' ; r.' 1 :