Prevalence of tuberculosis in the domesticated animals : abstract of an address delivered before the Lancashire Veterinary Association / by Sheridan Delépine.

  • Delépine, Sheridan, 1855-1921.
Date:
[1895]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Prevalence of tuberculosis in the domesticated animals : abstract of an address delivered before the Lancashire Veterinary Association / by Sheridan Delépine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    infected owing to their living in the houses of tuberculous human beings, but in their turn they become dangerous to those who make pets of them, and specially to children. Kegarding tuberculosis in birds, it is important not to be too much impressed by the diflferences between avian and human tuberculosis. We have to deal here only with varieties of the same bacillus, and as we know little of the conditions under which the tubercle bacillus lives saprophytically, it is impossible to tell at present whether the avian tubercle bacillus may not at times become a source of danger to man. The facts that in some poultry yards tuberculosis spreads rapidly, and that when the disease has occurred once it is difficult to eradicate, show that avian tuberculosis is a very contagious disease. In conclusion, I would like to point out that domesticated animals constitute a breeding ground for a bacillus which is one of the most dangerous enemies of man. Recent observations have shown that there is a tendency towards an increased prevalence of tuberculosis amongst these animals. It is evident that considerations of mere economy cannot much longer prevent the State from dealing actively with such a glaring danger. It is fortunate under those circumstances that veterinary surgeons should in some places have been called upon to assist medical officers of health in the inspection of animals used for food. The special knowledge which a veterinary man can bring to bear on such questions should make it possible for us to arrive before long at a correct estimate of the magni- tude of the danger to which we are exposed through tuberculosis. This should be known not only in a general way hut accurately in each district, and to the veterinary profession, which has already done so much in the past, we are now looking for the information still wanted. John Heywood, Excelsior Printing aud Bookbinding Works Manchester.