Henry Baird Favill, AB, MD, LL.D., 1860-1916, a ... - University Library

AGRICULTURE AND DAIRYING 447
Let us draw a parallel in human affairs.
Suppose that
very few people ever died of consumption but were carried
off by some other process before their disease was very
evident. Suppose, in addition to that, that all people were
subjected to tuberculin test, and it were found, as it would
be, that somewhere from 60 to 90 per cent reacted at sometime
or other in life, and that of these a large percentage
yet recovered; would it not be infinitely difficult, in the absence
of
its gravity?
death from the disease, to impress the public with
Well, the situation with the owners of cattle is like that,
and in addition they are alienated by the predominance of
considerations that they regard as spurious.
No one who has not struggled with the problem of trying
to persuade human beings of the importance of human
tuberculosis, — those whose lives are at stake, — is in position
to realize the enormous difficulties involved in bringing
to that point of intelligence the mass of owners of cattle
as to bovine tuberculosis. To this end every legitimate
agency will need to be taxed to its utmost, and the struggle
is not one of years, but of decades and perhaps of generations,
and yet this struggle must be made.
Practical experience is eloquent enough upon this subject,
but scientific training adds greatly to a grasp of the
specific dangers and difficulties involved. If the veterinaries
are especially active in
urging preventive measures,
it is because of their especially trained faculties and not
because of self-interest.
It is naturally very hard to persuade a layman who has
no clear comprehension of the qualities and behavior of
disease germs, that a cow in apparent health and with full
performing capacity can be spreading the germs of infection
in the most prodigal way. Nevertheless this is true, and
until this truth can be hammered home in such a way as to
make it a matter of conviction to all, these dangers can
not be eliminated.