London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The following table shows the number of samples taken during the period under review (1st July, 1908, to 16th January, 1909), the counties from which they were derived, and the results of the bacteriological examination at the Lister Institute.
| County. | No. of samples taken from churns for examination. | Results of examination. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of samples found tuberculous. | No. of samples found not to be tuberculous. | No. of samples the examination of which was not completed owing to accident and other causes. | ||
| Bedfordshire | 21 | - | 12 | 9 |
| Berkshire | 90 | 5 | 65 | 20 |
| Buckinghamshire | 45 | 2 | 32 | 12 |
| Cambrid geshire | 5 | - | 4 | 1 |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1 | — | - |
| Derbyshire | 75 | 11 | 50 | 15 |
| Dorsetshire | 2 | - | 2 | - |
| Essex | 85 | 16 | 67 | 2 |
| Gloucestershire | 15 | — | 15 | - |
| Hampshire | 35 | 5 | 28 | 2 |
| Herefordshire | 4 | - | 3 | 1 |
| Hertfordshire | 15 | 1 | 14 | - |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | - | 1 | — |
| Leicestershire | 40 | 4 | 32 | 3 |
| Norfolk | 1 | - | 1 | - |
| Northamptonshire | 23 | — | 13 | 10 |
| Oxfordshire | 49 | - | 44 | 4 |
| Rutlandshire | 1 | 1 | -■ | - |
| Somersetshire | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Staffordshire | 14 | 2 | 11 | 1 |
| Suffolk | 15 | 3 | 12 | - |
| Surrey | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Sussex | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Warwickshire | 11 | 1 | 8 | 2 |
| Wiltshire | 57 | 4 | 45 | 8 |
| Worcestershire | 3 | - | 3 | - |
| Total | 620 | 61 | 467 | 92 |
This table shows that out of 528 completed examinations of samples taken from chums consigned
to London, 61 proved to be tuberculous, i.e., 11.6 per cent.
The following table shows the number of farms visited, the number of cows inspected and the number of cows certified to have tuberculosis of the udder during this period:
| Couuty. | No. of farms inspected. | No. of cows inspected. | No. of cows with tuberculous udders. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 20 | - |
| Berkshire | 6 | 288 | 12 |
| Buckinghamshire | 6 | 178 | 2 |
| Cheshire | 1 | 36 | 1 |
| Derbyshire | 23 | 452 | 21 |
| Essex | 25 | 1,533 | 27 |
| Hampshire | 5 | 200 | 11 |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 37 | 1 |
| Leicestershire | 4 | 106 | 5 |
| Rutlandshire | 2 | 20 | - |
| Somersetshire | 19 | 254 | 11 |
| Staffordshire | 82 | 1,244 | 33 |
| Suffolk | 4 | 177 | 8 |
| Surrey | 1 | 87 | 6 |
| Sussex | 4 | 122 | 3 |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 64 | 2 |
| Wiltshire | 4 | 179 | 4 |
| Totals | 190 | 4,997 | 147 |
This table shows that 2.9 per cent. of the cows examined were found to have clinical symptoms
of tuberculous disease of the udder. The supply of milk for human consumption from the cows thus
affected was immediately stopped.
The experience gained during 1908 shows the magnitude of the evil to be dealt with, and
that it is possible, even under existing circumstances, to take steps which must eventually materially