View report page

28
From the copies of reports forwarded by the county medical officers of health,
it would appear that 59 cows had been found to be affected with tuberculosis and
were slaughtered under the Tuberculosis Order, 1925.
In the case of 311 samples, it was reported that the injected guinea-pig had
succumbed to an acute intercurrent infection by some organisms other than tubercle
contained in the milk. As it seems possible that the death of the guinea-pig is
caused by lethal organisms in the milk caused by dirty conditions either of the cow's
udder or in the cowshed, the County Medical Officers of Health are now notified of
the circumstances in order that they may take such action as they think desirable.
In accordance with the instruction of the Mental Hospitals Committee, 25
samples have been taken during the year of the milk from the cows at the mental
hospitals. Of these, four have been found to be tubercle infected. In each case
the herd at the farm whence the milk emanated has been inspected by the Veterinary
Inspector. In one instance, a cow which he considered tubercular and isolated for
slaughter, subsequently died of pulmonary haemorrhage. In another instance, a cow
found on post-mortem examination to be tubercular was slaughtered a few days
before the Veterinary Inspector's visit. In the case of the remaining two samples,
which emanated from the same herd, the inspector failed to detect any evidence of
tuberculosis. Three cows, however, had been slaughtered shortly after the taking
of the samples.
The cows in the London sheds are inspected under the provisions of Section 27
of Part V. of the Council's (General Powers) Act, 1904, and Part IV. of the Milk and
Dairies Order, 1926. The Veterinary Inspector makes a routine quarterly inspection
of the cows at each cowshed. 367 inspections were made for this purpose during
the year, and 8,125 examinations made. No case of generalised tuberculosis was
detected, but in 116 cases other unhealthy conditions were found.
Venereal Diseases.
The number of new cases of venereal disease dealt with by the hospitals under
the London and Home Counties Scheme during 1927 was 18,801, of which 6,095 were
syphilis, 12,496 gonorrhoea, and 210 soft chancre. Comparing these figures with those
of the previous year it will be observed that the total number of new cases dealt with
is 1,077 more than in 1926.
Year.
Syphilis.
Gonorrhœa.
Soft chancre.
Non-venereal.
Total.
1926 5,738 11,683 303 8,988 26,712
1927 6,095 12,496 210 10,16 28,965
Increase +
or decrease — +357 +813 -93 +1,176 +2,253