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52
the direct result of the introduction into the human body of the bacillus
of bovine tuberculosis; and there also can be no doubt that in the
majority at least of these cases the bacillus is introduced through cows
milk. Cows milk containing bovine tubercle bacilli is clearly a cause
of tuberculosis and of fatal tuberculosis in man.
"Of the 60 cases of human tuberculosis investigated by us, 14 of the
viruses belonged to group 1—that is to say, contained the bovine bacillus.
If, instead of taking all these 60 cases, we confine ourselves to cases of
tuberculosis in which the bacilli were apparently introduced into the
body by way of the alimentary canal, the proportion of group 1 becomes
very much larger. Of the total 60 cases investigated by us, 28 possessed
clinical histories indicating that in them the bacillus was introduced
through the alimentary canal. Of these, 13 belong to group 1. Of the
9 cases in which cervical glands were studied by us, 3, and of the 19
cases in which the lesions of abdominal tuberculosis were studied by us,
10 belong to group 1.
"These facts indicate that a very large proportion of tuberculosis
contracted by ingestion is due to tubercle bacilli of bovine source.
" A very considerable amount of disease and loss of life, especially
among the young, must be attributed to the consumption of cows milk
containing tubercle bacilli. The presence of tubercle bacilli in cows
milk can be detected, though with some difficulty, if the proper
means be adopted, and such milk ought never to be used as
food. There is far less difficulty in recognising clinically that a cow is
distinctly suffering from tuberculosis, in which case she may be yielding
tuberculous milk. The milk coming from such a cow ought not to form
part of human food, and indeed ought not to be used as food at all.
"Our results point clearly to the necessity of measures more
stringent than those at present enforced being taken to prevent the sale
or the consumption of such milk."
The enquiries which are made into the circumstances of each case
in Westminster show that in a considerable proportion the infection is
undoubtedly of human origin. Typical examples of such in infants
are the following:-
(a) Father and grandfather died of phthisis; two sisters have it;
one other dead from tuberculosis of bowels.
(b) Father out-patient at Brompton; one child died in 1905 of
meningitis.
(c) Father consumptive; previous child died from tubercle.
(d) Father consumptive.
(e) Mother consumptive.
(f) Father consumptive.
(g) Mother consumptive; previous baby died from tubercular
meningitis.