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45
Report of the County Medical Officer—General.
if the animal was not affected with tuberculosis in any of the forms specified in the order the owner Was
entitled to the full value of the animal plus £1. The carcases and hides became the property of the
Council, and any amount realised by their sale was paid into the County Fund. One-half of the compensation,
after deducting salvage receipts, was refunded to the Council by the Treasury. Articles were
also inserted in the Order dealing with the restriction of the use of milk, and the isolation of suspected
animals, together with the disinfection of the cowshed in which the affected animal was discovered.
Although the provisions in the L.C.C. (General Powers) Act, 1904, already referred to were not repealed
by the Tuberculosis Order of 1913, the Council proceeded in respect of the seizure of animals and
compensation under the Tuberculosis Order of 1913.
The experience of the working of the Tuberculosis Order of 1913 indicated that there was considerable
difficulty in assessing the valuation of the animals on the dual basis provided by the Order,
and further than it was desirable that the scope of the Order should be extended so as to include additional
forms of tuberculosis. Complaint had also been made as to the expense of administration borne
by local authorities, which was not covered by the Government grant. To meet these difficulties the
new Order provided (1) that there should be one basis of valuation, viz., the market value of the animal
at the time of seizure (2) that the Order should be extended so as to include within its scope animals
suffering from chronic cough and showing definite signs of tuberculosis; (3) that local authorities should
be refunded three-quarters of the gross compensation instead of one half of the net compensation, i.e.,
three-quarters of the amount paid without any deduction in respect of the proceeds of the sale of the
carcase. Certain other modifications of a minor character which were considered advisable to ensure
the smooth working of the Order were made. The Order of 1913 was cancelled by this new Order,
but owing to the war the Order of 1914 was suspended as from 6th August, 1914.

From 29th January to the suspension of the Tuberculosis Order of 1914 on 6th August, 1914,
21 animals were seized and slaughtered under the orders, and on post-mortem examination 13 were found
to be suffering from tuberculosis in an advanced form, while in the remaining 8 cases the disease was
not advanced within the meaning of the Order. Since the suspension of the Order the veterinary inspector
has found 3 cases presenting symptoms suspicious of tuberculosis of the udder and 13 cases
presenting symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis. The cows presenting symptoms of tuberculosis of the
udder, and 7 of the cows suspected to be suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis were slaughtered by
the owners. There was no power to deal with the remaining 6 animals.
The services of the veterinary inspector were also utilised for the purpose of ensuring that cows
purchased as milch cows for industrial schools were free from tuberculosis. Four cows were purchased
for Mayford Industrial school and 3 for Portsladc, in each case after the submission of the animal to
a tuberculin test by the veterinary inspector.
Part IV. of the London County Council "(General Powers) Act of 1907 empowers the County
Medical Officer of Health or other duly authorised person to take, within and without the County,
samples of milk produced or sold or intended for sale within the County ; and, having obtained a
justice's order, in company with a veterinary surgeon, to enter any dairy from which milk is being
sold or suffered to be sold or used within the County, and to inspect the cows kept therein, and if the
Medical Officer or such authorised person has reason to suspect that any cow is suffering from tuberculosis
of the udder he may take samples of the milk of such cow. If it appears to the Council that
tuberculosis is caused, or is likely to be caused, to persons residing in the County from the consumption
Tuberculous
milk; London
County
Council
(General
Powers) Aot,
1907, Part
IV.
* Order suspended on account of the war.