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44
Annual Report of the London County Council, 1914.

Indirection
of milkshop
premises.
Tuberculosis
of the udder
in London
cows.
London
County Council
(General
Powers) Act,
1904(Part V.)
Cows kept in London cowsheds have been inspected since February, 1899, by a veterinary inspector
appointed by the Council under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order of 1899. Under this order,
the use of milk for human consumption from cows certified by a veterinary surgeon to be suffering from
tuberculosis of the udder is prohibited. In 1904 this power was supplemented in London by additional
• powers, incorporated in the London County Council (General Powers) Act of that year, for the removal
of any cow from any dairy, farm or cowshed in the county (elsewhere than in the City), if suspected to
i be suffering from tuberculosis of the. udder, and if, upon slaughter, these suspicions were verified, a sum
equal to three-quarters of the agreed value of the animal (not exceeding £22 10s.) became payable to
the owner by the Council. If the cow proved to be free from tuberculosis of the udder, the full agreed
value (not exceeding £30), together with a further sum of £1, became payable by the Council. Further
powers were conferred upon the Council by the Tuberculosis Order of 1913, which came into operation
on 1st May, 1913. Under this order the Council was required not only to deal with cows affected with
tuberculosis of the udder, but also with cows giving tuberculous milk, or suffering from induration or
other chronic disease of the udder, and with all bovine animals suffering from tuberculosis with
emaciation.
The veterinary inspector was empowered, with the owner's consent, to apply the tuberculin test
in cases where the evidence of disease obtained by clinical methods was not conclusive. All persons
having in their possession or under their charge animals which appeared to come within the purview of
the order, including animals exposed for sale in markets or saleyards, and all veterinary surgeons detecting
such cases in the course of their practice, were required to notify the cases to the Council, and it was the
duty of the Council to arrange for the veterinary examination of such animals, and, if affected with tuberculosis
in any of the forms specified in the order, the animal had to be valued on two bases (i.) on the
basis that the animal was not affected with tuberculosis, and (ii.) on the basis that it was so affected.
The Council had then to slaughter the animal and conduct a post mortem examination. Should the
post mortem examination reveal the presence of tuberculosis in an advanced stage, only one quarter
of the valuation (as a tuberculous animal) was payable to the owner as compensation ; if the disease was
found not advanced, three-quarters of the valuation of the animal (as a tuberculous animal) was payable ;
(rt) Figures in italics refer to persons registered.
t The milkshou premisos are being re-registered under new regulations.