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64
danger in the unprotected area. The farmer will naturally require
that the inspector shall be a practical man with a knowledge of cattle,
and if this is provided, together with uniform inspection throughout
the country, theTe is no reason to doubt that the scheme would be
acceptable to him.
The compulsory notification of clinical tuberculosis and of udder
disease in milch-cows would only be really effective if combined with
periodic veterinary inspection. Indeed, the experience of the working
of the Milk Clauses of the Birmingham Improvement Act demonstrates
such a provision to be practically inoperative. It remains, in conclusion,
to briefly consider what would have to be the nature of this veterinary
inspection. Unfortunately, diagnosis of tuberculosis by inspection and
palpation, etc., even when the udder is affected, is often impossible
without the assistance of tuberculin and bacteriological examination,
and hence it is only by a combination of these methods with veterinary
inspection that a sufficiently prompt and certain diagnosis for public
health administration purposes can be effected. These circumstances
add to the expense and difficulties in connection with the scheme, but
not materially so. Then again a quarterly inspection is necessary for
several reasons, among which may be mentioned the fact that clinical
tuberculosis may develop in less than three months, and on a halfyearly
basis some cows in milk might escape inspection altogether.
Any suspected or diseased cow would be at once isolated and the sale
of its milk stopped; and when it is known for a certainty that the
animal is suffering from tuberculosis every endeavour should be made
to obtain its slaughter.
This, of course, would be greatly facilitated by a national scheme,
for the reason that the sale of the animal and its subsequent use for
milking would be dangerous, if not impossible, owing to the
co-operation (including inter-notification, etc.,) which would exist
among Sanitary Authorities.
ACCOMMODATION FOR STORAGE OF FOOD.
It is noteworthy that our hands have been much strengthened, in
dealing with this most important provision, by recent legislation.