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section of the article which contains this provision confers upon a
local authority (subject, of course, to the foregoing proviso) power
to take all such measures or to do all such things as are authorised
in any case of infectious disease, by any enactment relating to the
public health, having reference to the destruction and disinfection
of infected articles or the cleansing or disinfecting of premises.
Certain other powers, as affording assistance to persons suffering
from this disease, are also conferred.
Tuberculosis is the Communicable Disease regarding which the
lines of prevention are most clearly defined, and it is at the same time
the disease a cure of which is most difficult. There is an accumulating
body of evidence which points to the conclusion, even if it does
not justify it, that a considerable proportion of the Consumption in
our midst is primarily of intestinal origin, and the Royal-Commission
has reported that "a very considerable amount of disease and loss of
life, especially amongst the young, must be attributed to the consumption
of cows' milk containing tubercle bacilli." Having regard
to these facts and the circumstance that some 10 per cent, of the
random samples of milk hitherto examined in this country contained
the germ of the disease, the claims in the interest of the Public
Health for an adequate inspection of milch cows cannot long be
ignored.
The London County Council, under Part IV. of its General
Powers Act of 1907, recently examined 92 samples of milk and found
22 or 23.9 per cent, to be tuberculous, and on visiting 20 of the
farms from which the samples were taken 10 cows were found to be
tuberculous. Subsequently out of 285 samples examined only 22
(or 7.7 per cent.) were found to be tuberculous. The London
County Council is doing an excellent work, under its General Powers
Act 1907, by dealing with the milk question in relation to Tuberculosis