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The Vestry adopted these recommendations of the Committee,
and subsequently the memorial was prepared and forwarded to the
Board of Agriculture, and communications made to the individuals
and authorities mentioned in the report. It may be here stated the
15 London Districts supported the memorial of the Hackney Vestry
to the Board of Agriculture on the subject, and on the other hand,
the London County Council, amongst others, stated that they could
not see their way to take any action at that time.
The following circular was also prepared and distributed to every
house in the district.
CONSUMPTION AND INFECTED COWS' MILK.
'I he Hackney Vestry having had one hundred samples of the
milk sold in their district examined by an experienced bacteriologist,
have ascertained that 22 per cent, of the samples so examined
were infected with tubercle bacilli—the active cause of Consump
tion. The Vestry have every reason to believe that these samples are
fairly representative of the whole of the cows' milk sold to the
public in Hackney. Under these circumstances, the Vestry feel
bound to make known the risks the public run in using raw milk,
and to warn them that milk infected with tubercle bacilli is capable
of causing Consumption in those who consume it without previous
sterilizing, and to strongly advise the public to boil or otherwise
sterilize all milk before use, in order to avoid the danger of causing
Consumption by this means.
By order of the Public Health Committee,
J. KING WABRY, M.D.,
Public Health Department, Medical Officer of Health.
Town Hall, Hackney, N.E.
12th July, 1899.
It is to be hoped that the action taken bv the Vestry in this matter
will help to create a public opinion in favour of legislation to prevent
the spread of tuberculosis by means of cows' milk, which will
ultimately induce the Government to promote a Bill to this end.