View report page

45
raw, while the greater proportion of the milk is cooked before consumption.
It has been proved over and over again that milk from
tuberculous udders, and even milk which has been purposely contaminated
with tuberculous matter, can be rendered perjectly harmless by being
boiled for one minute,* a method of sterilization which we agree with
the former Commission in preferring for general application to any of
the other plans which have been employed."
On page 17 the commission reports:—
"The views of Professor Bang on bovine tuberculosis are, briefly,
that it is due to the ease with which the infection imy spread by
air, water, and food, owing to the common life of healthy and unhealthy
animals when in confined badly ventilated sheds."
It is most important to bear in mind that like conditions apply to
human beings.
Whilst this report is being written, Mr. Chaplin in the House of
Commons stated in answer to Mr. Channing, that he had now come to
a decision as to the portions of the recommendations of the Commission
on Tuberculosis which ought to be carried out without delay, and
especially as to the recommendations referring to the purity of milk.
He was aware that a considerable number of town councils and other
local authorities were bringing in bills to extend their powers for
dealing with the purity of milk. He had considered the resolutions
passed by the British Dairy Farmers' Association, and by the Central
and Associated Chambers of Agriculture to the effect that there
should be a general Act passed dealing uniformly with this question,
but he doubted if a general bill was required to secure better protection
from infection. He proposed to issue an order extending the
definition of Diseases in the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order
of 1885 so as to include in the case of a cow such disease of the udder
* The text does not appear in italics in the report of the Royal Commission.