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59
Presence of Tubercle Bacilli.
Guinea-pigs were inoculated with milk from samples 1,
2, 12, 13, 18 and 19, but in each case failed to show any
evidence of a tuberculous infection on post-mortem examination.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF SAMPLES
OF GRADED MILKS.
The Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923, lays down
certain conditions under which graded milks may be sold,
and these include a requirement that, on a sample being
taken at any time before delivery to the consumer, the milk
shall contain not more than a prescribed number of bacteria
per cubic centimetre. The requirements for the various
grades of milk are as follow :—
Maximum No. of bacteria Coliform Bacillus,
per c.c.
Certified Milk 30,000 Absent in l/10th c.c.
Grade A and Grade A (T.T.) 200,000 ,, l/100th ,,
Grade A (Pasteurised) 30,000 „ l/10th „
Pasteurised 100,000 —
The Order provides, further, that a licensing authority, if
they are satisfied that any of the conditions upon which a
licence is granted are not being complied with, may
suspend or revoke the licence.
It is my considered opinion that most of the reports now
received with regard to the bacteriological examination of
milk are unreliable.
The question of sampling and examination of graded milks
is one to which I have given considerable attention in the
past and, in support of my view, I would draw your attention
to the following facts.
Some time ago I became dissatisfied with the results of
the examination of samples, which, at that time, were being
submitted to one of the largest laboratories specialising in