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occasion of drawing, it would be necessary to have it examined fo prove that
it was unsound and unfit for food, which was equally impracticable. The
only effective course would be to remove and detain the cows and compensate
the owner, for it was not obvious to the eye that the cows were suffering from
any disease, and the owner was in no way to blame; 011 the contrary he
offered every facility, and was only too anxious that anything wrong should be
put right. As the Officers of the Borough Council had exhausted their
powers, I communicated with the Inspector under the Contagious Diseases
(Animals) Act, Mr. W. G. Barnes, F.R.C.V.S. He promptly came to the
Town Hall, and, accompanied by Inspector Auger, we proceeded to the
cowshed. He examined the cows and pronounced one decidedly tubercular
and the other most probably so. He took possession of the cows and informed
the owner that he should assess the compensation, and that someone would
come down to fetch them away. Afterwards Mr. Barnes kindly called
at the office and told me that the cows had been taken away to the Cattle
Market, and I supplied him with all the information I could that might assist
him.
Milk Supply (Tuberculosis).—As set out in Part VI. (Legislation) of this
Report the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1907, Part IV ,
empowers the Officers of the County Council to take samples of milk within
the County, and under a Magistrate's order outside the County. It also
empowers Officers of the County Council to inspect cows, and take samples of
milk in cowsheds within the County, and under Magistrate's order outside the
County, and empowers the County Council to make an order to prohibit the
supply within the County of any milk from any specified cow or dairy.
London County Council's Legislative Proposals for 1908 in reference to Milk
Suppli,. — The St. Pancras Public Health Committee considered the communication
from the London County Council, dated the 24th July, 1907, submitting
legislative proposals of their Public Health Committee for securing a pure and
wholesome milk supply for London, and asking for the views of this Authority
on the subject.
The London County Council on the 9th July last resolved—" That in the
" opinion of the Council general legislation affecting the whole country and
" more effective administration are necessary for the purpose of securing a
" purer and more wholesome supply of milk; that representations to that
" effect be made to the President of the Local Government Board, and that it
" be referred to the Public Health and Parliamentary Committees to give
" effect to this proposal; and that it be referred to the Public Health Com"
mittee to report in detail as to any legislation which they may consider
" necessary for the purpose of securing a pure and wholesome milk supply for
" London in particular, pending or in addition to general legislation, after
" conferring with or otherwise ascertaining the views of the Metropolitan
" Borough Councils and the City of London."
The County Council's Public Health Committee in their report on the
subject state that they feel that powers for taking samples of milk arriving
at railway stations in London and elsewhere would be economically and
efficiently administered in conjunction with that proposed with regard to
tuberculous milk.