Greetings! In today’s class we shall look at the disease tuberculosis and how it can transfer from animals to man. Furthermore, as we study see if you can discern an object lesson within. Share what you learn in the comment section below!
“Ever farmer realizes that diseases both in his crops and herds are more numerous than a generation ago.”
Tuberculosis From Cattle To Man
“For centuries it was strongly suspected that scrofula or consumption of cattle was transmissible to man. After Villemin, Chauveau and Gerlach proved that tuberculosis is transmissible from animal to animal, Koch discovered that tubercle bacillus, Theobald Smith described the bovine type and Ravenel proved conclusively that this type causes tuberculosis in man, there were few unbelievers and doubters…From this came the greatest victory ever won over tuberculosis. It included the solution of one of man’s greatest economic problems and also one of the most serious public health problems…
“There is no doubt that large numbers of human beings of all ages formerly developed primary tuberculosis from the bovine type of tubercle bacillus and this markedly increases the incidence of tuberculin reactors wherever human beings associated with tuberculous cattle or consumed the products of these animals.
“We should ever be mindful of the fact that tuberculosis of animals, and particularly of cattle, may be transmitted to human beings.”
Tuberculous Conditions Of Cattle
Tuberculosis of Udder in Cows: “Tuberculosis of the udder usually commences well up in one or both quarters, and may involve the lymph glands situated above and back of the two rear quarters of the udder. The organ itself becomes progressively hard and swollen, sometimes 
acquiring enormous size. Milk secretion appears normal until the infection has progressed considerably, when the milk becomes thin, watery, and scanty, and contains flaky and stringy material, and possibly blood and pus.
“This disease, however, may go on unrecognized for years; meanwhile the animal continues to yield milk containing tubercle bacilli, thus endangering the health of other livestock as well as human lives….There is no known cure for the disease.”
Forced Lactation Prepares For Tuberculosis: “Animals which are fed on non-nutritious foods as well as those that have too little feed, become weakened constitutionally and lose the power to resist the invasion of the organisms. Stabling animals in dark, poorly ventilated, and dirty barns helps to spread tuberculosis…Any condition that produces constant strain upon the systems of animals, such as continued forced lactation periods of dairy cows, renders them fit subjects for the development of tuberculosis.”
No Outward Symptoms: “In most cases the outward appearance of the animal bears no relation to the degree of infection. The disease frequently develops so slowly that in some cases it may be months or even longer before any symptoms are shown.”
Danger Undetected: “The tuberculous cow is the greatest source of danger in healthy cattle. Inasmuch as it cannot be determined just when that animal becomes a ‘spreader’ of the germs unless daily microscopic tests are made of the milk and of the discharges from the body, it is unsafe to keep her with healthy cattle.”
Gives No Indication: “It must be understood that tuberculosis is a disease which often gives no indication of its presence by external symptoms.” “Animals that are extensively diseased are often in apparently perfect physical condition.”
Milk a Carrier: “Milk is a good medium for the distribution of the tubercle bacilli.”
From Milk to Children: “Many cases of tuberculosis among children are traceable to the use of milk from tuberculous cows…”
Clean Herds Are Impossible: If the elimination of all of the infected cowes were required “many a dairy herd would lose from a quarter to a half of its otherwise healthy cows at the first test; and it would require repeated tests at fairly short intervals, with the elimination of still more cows from time to time, over a period of years, before we would be reasonably sure that the milk no longer contained undulant fever germs. The expense of such a program would be prohibitive.”
Chickens Most Susceptible
“Of all domestic birds, chicken are by far the most susceptible to tuberculosis…Turkeys, geese, ducks and guinea fowls 
have been found to have the disease…Sparrows and pigeons also have been proven to be susceptible.”
Danger in the Egg: “…man’s chief danger of contracting tuberculosis from chickens does not lie in eating the flesh because it is usually cooked, but rather in eating the eggs. Common methods of cooking the eggs will not destroy the bacillus and so they are eaten in living virulent state.”
Object Lesson: “…man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:7
Like the countenance of those diseased cows, we too may appear to be in a good condition, when we are really not. What is our disease? A sin sick soul. “O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:24 No matter what our condition is, there is Someone who can deliver us! “Jesus Christ our Lord” vs.25
Find out God’s plan of action on how we can get victory over the sin that so easily besets us, in our 12-Disc Series, The History of Redemption.
A Quote To Note:
A long preparatory process, unknown to the world, goes on in the heart before the Christian commits open sin. The mind does not come down at once from purity and holiness to depravity, corruption, and crime. It takes time to degrade those formed in the image of God to the brutal or the satanic. By beholding, we become changed. By the indulgence of impure thoughts, man can so educate his mind that sin which he once loathed will become pleasant to him.—Patriarchs and Prophets, 459.
Grab a friend and share the wealth, from what you’ve learned in the School of Health! In next week’s class we shall learn more about diseases of animals and man. Until then, God bless!