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tested with tuberculin, 36 of them were found to be
tuberculous. Now, the premises in which these cows of
the Royal herd had been kept were probably the best
in the Kingdom. In regard to cubic space, light, ventilation,
cleanliness, and feeding there had been nothing to
be desired. The cows, moreover, were in good condition,
and apparently healthy. But, as a mere matter of precaution,
and in order to exclude from the dairy any cow or
cows which might be found to react to tuberculin, this
test was used in September, 1898. No less than 36 out of
this splendid herd of 40 cows were found to react. These
36 cows were ordered to be slaughtered, and submitted
to a careful post-mortem examination. Subsequently it
was thought that the value of the investigation would be
greatly increased if the other four cows also were
slaughtered and examined at the same time. Of the 36
cows, the bodies of 35 were found to exhibit tuberculous
lesions, and the thirty-sixth cow was found to be suffering
from another form of internal disease. The four cows
which did not react to the tuberculin were found to be
free from disease, with one exception. In this splendid
and perfectly-cared-for herd of 40 dairy cows, therefore,
36 were found to be tuberculous, one was the subject of
another visceral disease, and three were healthy. The
results of this entirely unimpeachable investigation show
that the trading dairyman often deserves our sympathy
when tuberculosis shows itself among his cows. It also
indicates that the meat and milk used by the public must
come from tuberculous cattle to a much larger extent
than has ever been surmised. It seems, therefore, to
follow that the tubercular germs take effect rather upon
persons who lack resisting power, and that predisposing
as well as exciting causes must combine—so as to work
together in order to effectuate the dissemination of tuberculosis.
Otherwise, all persons who drink milk or eat
meat would become tuberculous. The facts yielded by
this investigation of the Royal herd of non-pedigree dairy
cows indicate the practical impossibility of exterminating