Tuberculosis In Cattle.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 67, 16 September 1895, Page 3

Tuberculosis In Cattle.

The following is an interesting extract from " Science Jottings," by Dr. Andrew Wilson, in the Illustrated uondon News, of a recent date.— The report of the Royal Commission on tuberculosis has been preseated to Jt'arliameut. Tnis Commission has been at work erer since July 1890. Its mam enquiries have been devoted to the solution of two problems : first under what circumstances could tuberculous meal and milk convey the disease to man ? and second, what effect do cooking processes exert in preventing any injutiouß results ascertained to be real ities under the first part of the enquiry ? The flesh of an animal affected by tuberculosis (in its organs) is not necessarily to be regarded as infectious; tut Dr. Sjdney Martin adds that in the process of dressing the carcase infectio.i maj be conveyed lo the meat by the knife of the batcher. This artificial and post mortem infection, therefore, is a thing to befiuarded against. Then, also, it was found that when tuberculuous matter was placed on m«*at. and the meat tightly rolled up. it was not destroyed by bak* in«, roast ng or boiling, though boiiing, it is added, was moie effectve than baking, and bakmg more so than roasting. It is clear that what is required uere is the careful removal of every mternal orgsn from the animal, aul Kuard-ug against any tainting of the meat. M ilk, it is said becomes tuberculous only when the cow's udder is itself affected Here the old adage " boil the una must again beheld to express our safety from the alleged infection which U may convey. I say 'alleged', for I do not think it hss been proved that milk can convey tubercle. I distinguish in this matter between what is probable and what is proved. Our safety will really he in the thorongh cooking of meat and in the boiling of milk. These measure* way not be of perfect character, bui they will at least assure for us a fair measure of sanitary security "