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154
Tuberculosis Order of 1909.—Covered by a Circular Letter dated 27th May,
the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries issued the Tuberculosis Order of 1909.
This Order, which was sent to the local authorities in Great Britain under the
Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1903, accompanied by a circular letter,
and this letter is to be followed later by another which is to treat more particularly
of points of administrative detail, the first circular dealing only with
the broader aspects of the subject. It is pointed out that were it possible in this
country to eradicate tuberculosis from milch cattle, a material step forward
would be taken in the campaign against the disease in man ; but, it is added,
that operations aimed at the diminution or eradication of animal tuberculosis
must be carried out with due regard to the importance of securing the continuance
of an adequate rnilk-supply, and of avoiding disorganisation of the
important industry concerned. The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has
provided that the proceedings shall, in the first place, be limited to the
destruction of cows which are suffering from tuberculosis of the udder, which
are " emaciated from tuberculosis," or which are proved to be yielding
tuberculous milk, all three of which conditions are known to disseminate
freely the germs of the disease. It has also been determined by the provisions
of Article 3 of the Order that the veterinary inspector of the local
authority will be able, in cases where a suspected bovine animal is in question,
to examine other animals which, in his opinion, present clinical symptoms of
the disease ; and, as regards such animals, he may, but only with the written
consent of the owner, apply the tuberculin test. In.all cases, power is conferred
upon the veterinary inspector to take samples of milk, fnoces, urine, and
abnormal discharges, with a view of submitting them to bacteriological examination.
The provisions relative to the subject of compensation for compulsory
slaughter are most important. If the animal proves on slaughter not to be
tuberculous, the compensation to be paid is that of the full value of the animal
plus 20s., and when tuberculosis is found the degree of compensation is to depend
upon the extent and distribution of the tuberculous lesions, the general standard
adopted being that proposed by the Royal Commission of 1898, which set out
the conditions under which the whole carcasses or only parts thereof were to
be seized. Under this arrangement an animal is deemed to have been
suffering from " advanced tuberculosis: (a) when there is miliary tuberculosis
in both lungs; (b) when tuberculous lesions are present on the pleura or
peritoneum ; (e) w lien tuberculous lesions are present in the muscular system
or in the lymphatic glands embedded in or between the muscles ; or (d) when
the carcass is emaciated and tuberculous lesions are present. When, therefore,
this technically " advanced " tuberculosis is discovered, the local authority has
to pay to the owner a sum equal to one-fourth of the value of the animal or
the sum of £2, whichever sum is the greater, but after deducting therefrom
one-half of the costs of valuation and examination of the carcass. If, however,
the examination after slaughter shows that the animal, although tuberculous,
was not suffering from "advanced" tuberculosis, the owner is paid a sum
equal to three-fourths of the value of the animal, less one-half the expenses
referred to above. As regards the precautions to be adopted with respect to
milk, it is laid down by Article 8 that the milk of any cow which is, or
appears to be, suffering from chronic udder disease or emaciation from tuberculosis,
shall not be mixed with other milk until such cow has been examined
by a veterinary inspector, and until the owner has been notified that the
provisions of this Article have ceased to apply to the cow. It is further