TUBERCULOSIS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1141, 14 March 1884, Page 4

TUBERCULOSIS.

The following alarming statement has appeared in the Federal Australian'.—The existence of tuberculosis among our herds and flocks has been known to many -stockbreeders for a number of years, bnt we think that comparatively few are aware th it this terrible disease is spreading rapidly. From several good authorities we learn that tuberculosis exists more or Jess in a very large proportion of the dairy stock in Victoria, and there is good reason for believing that it is equally prevalent in the other colonies. That is, to say the least, a serious state of affairs, as not only is the disease fatal to a large number of stock annually, but it also has a material ii fluence upon the health of hnman beings. The disease, which, must not be confounded with p'europneumouia, is, when it attacks the human race, known as consumption, and, as a matter of course, the more prevalent it is amongst animals the more the health of the community will be affected by it. Various animals are predisposed to this disease, and pre-eminently the bovine race. Sheep aad horses suffer to a less extent, but swine are very prone to tuberculosis. Poultry, cats, dogs, and other domestic animals are also often affected by this disease. Rabbits and hares are predisposed to this complaint, and instances are on record where they have been completely annihilated by its ravages. It has been proposed to combat the rabbit plague in that colony, which is ex tending rapidly, by distribudng the germs of tuberculosis. Taking into consideration, however, the nature of the disease and its liability to attack farm stock and also human beings, we think the proposed remedy for the rabbit nuisance is a dangerous one, and, if adopted, would be productive of more harm than good. Many of the diseases that afflict domestic animals are analogous to maladies from which the human race suffers. One of these complaints is tubercular consumption, with which mankind is unfortunately too familiar, and which is prevalent in the lower animals unoerthe nameof tuberculosis. When this disease is common among animals, the public health may be greatly affected, as the complaint may lie transmitted to human beiogs in various ways. The danger to the public h*alth by the spread of tuberculosis is a very serious matter.