None of these conditions of body or environment are sufficient to cause the disease, however, unless the animals are exposed to the mycobacterium tuberculosis and it penetrates the tissues of their bodies.
"Special Report on Diseases of Cattle"
U.S. Department of Agriculture J.R. Mohler
The disease is called tuberculosis because it is characterized by the formation of these peculiar nodules, and the bacillus which causes the disease is for the same reason known technically as the mycobacterium tuberculosis.
"Special Report on Diseases of Cattle"
U.S. Department of Agriculture J.R. Mohler