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45
The Commissioners report: "We found that the milk of the cows
obviously suffering from tuberculosis (see Appendix; Cows B, C,
and F) contained tubercle bacilli whether the milk was obtained in
the ordinary way or was withdrawn from the teat by means of a
sterilised catheter. The presence of tubercle bacilli in the milk of
cows clinically recognisable as tuberculous, confirms the opinion we
expressed in our Second Interim: Report that the milk of such cows
must be considered dangerous for human beings.
"The experiments which we have carried out with regard to the
infectivity of the faeces of tuberculous cows were suggested by the
knowledge of the fact that dirt of various kinds, from cows and the
cow-shed, is almost constantly present in milk as it reaches the
consumer. Cows suffering from extensive tuberculosis of the lungs
must discharge considerable numbers of bacilli from the air passages
in the act of coughing, and some of the bacilli thus expelled may find
their way into the milk. But our experiments indicate that the
excrement of cows obviously suffering from tuberculosis of the lungs
or alimentary canal must be regarded as much more dangerous than
the matter discharged from the mouth or nostrils. We have found
that, even in the case of cows with slight tuberculous lesions, tubercle
bacilli in small numbers are discharged in the faeces; while as regards
cows clinically tuberculous, our experiments show that the faeces
contain large numbers of living and virulent tubercle bacilli.
Investigations into the milk supply of our large towns are
demonstrating that a considerable percentage of the milk samples
examined contain the germ of consumption. It is not a comfortable
reflection that these germs are so commonly being introduced into
the digestive tract of children and adults.
In a Report to the London County Council in November of last
year, it was pointed out that during the six months ending March,
1909, 204 samples of milk were taken under Part IV. of the London