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abdominal organs and the cervical glands." The report goes on to say that
"judging by our feeding experiments there would appear to be strong presumption
that as regards most animals comparatively large doses given either singly or by
frequent repetition are necessary to produce by ingestion acute progressive
generalised tuberculosis, though we have recorded instances in which a very
small dose administered but once has produced this result. Applying a like
presumption to man (and our observations on the monkey and chimpanzee in this
connection afford warrant for so doing) it may be asked in what way are children,
the members of the human family who are especially liable to exhibit acute fatal
tuberculosis commencing as an abdominal affection, most likely to obtain a large
and fatally infective dose of tubercle bacilli ? As already indicated by us, to this
question there can be but one answer—namely, that the evidence which we have
accumulated goes to demonstrate that a considerable amount of the tuberculosis
of childhood is to be ascribed to infection with bacilli of the bovine type
transmitted to children in meals consisting largely of the milk of the cow."
In conclusion the report refers in the following terms to the steps that
should, in the opinion of the Commissioners, be taken to prevent the spread of
bovine tuberculosis—"Meanwhile we, in view of the evidence adduced by us,
regard ourselves as called upon to pronounce on administrative measures required
in the present for obtaining security against transmission of bovine tubercle
bacilli by means of food. In the interests therefore of infants and children, the
members of the population whom we have proved to be especially endangered,
and for the reasonable safeguarding of the public health generally, we would urge
that existing regulations and supervision of milk production and meat preparation
be not relaxed; that on the contrary, Government should cause to be enforced
throughout the kingdom food regulations planned to afford better security against
the infection of human beings through the medium of articles of diet derived
from tuberculous animals.
"More particularly we would urge action in this sense in order to avert or
minimise the present danger arising from the consumption of infected milk.
And in this connection it may be convenient for us to repeat certain facts observed
by us in reference to the conditions tending to the elimination by the cow of
bovine tubercle bacilli in her milk; facts in our opinion of such importance that
they formed the subject of our third interim report. Bovine tubercle bacilli are
apt to be abundantly present in milk as sold to the public when there is tuberculous
disease of the udder of the cow from which it was obtained. The fact is,
we believe, generally recognised though not adequately guarded against. But
these bacilli may also be present in the milk of tuberculous cows presenting no
evidence whatever of disease of the udder even when examined post-mortem.
Further, the milk of tuberculous cows not containing bacilli as it leaves the
udder may, and frequently does, become infective by being contaminated with