View report page

(36)
amongst tubercular patients and their friends that the habit of
expectoration in public vehicles and public places should be
repressed. I understand that in America notices are posted up in
railway carriages and other vehicles requesting the passengers
not to expectorate. If this were done in this country it would
bring the matter home to the lay mind and so have a beneficial
effect
The second means—that of infection by milk—is a matter
which the ordinary individual can guard against to a large
extent by boiling or sterilizing the milk before being consumed.
The Vestry may remember that some time ago I submitted a
report dealing generally with the Report of the Royal Commission
which has been occupied for some considerable time on the
question of Tuberculosis. With regard to the question of
Tuberculosis as affecting the milk supply, the Commission
states: " No doubt the largest part of the tuberculosis which
man obtains through his food is by means of milk containing
tuberculous matter."
This is a serious condition of things and calls for a remedy.
Public opinion is prepared to endorse the fact, that every
precaution should be taken to prevent milk being contaminated
in this way.
It has been found that if a substance called Tuberculin is
injected into a cow which is suffering from Tuberculosis,
although there is no outward sign, the disease can be detected;
in one herd of milk-cows in Edinburgh which were inoculated,
64 per cent were found to be suffering from this disease.