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109
especially liable to exhibit acute fatal tuberculosis commencing as an abdominal
affection, most likely to obtain a large and fatally infective dose of tubercle
bacilli ? As already indicated by us, to this question there can be but one
answer—namely, that the evidence which we have accumulated goes to
demonstrate that a considerable amount of the tuberculosis of childhood is to be
ascribed to infection with bacilli of the bovine type transmitted to children in
meals consisting largely of the milk of the cow."
In conclusion the report refers in the following terms to the steps that should,
in the opinion of the Commissioners, be taken to prevent the spread of bovine
tuberculosis—" Meanwhile we, in view of the evidence adduced by us, regard
ourselves as called upon to pronounce on administrative measures required in
the present for obtaining security against transmission of bovine tubercle bacilli
by means of food. In the interests therefore of infants and children, the
members of the population whom we have proved to be especially endangered,
and for the reasonable safeguarding of the public health generally, we would
urge that existing regulations and supervision of milk production and meat
preparation be not relaxed ; that on the contrary, Government should cause to
be enforced throughout the kingdom food regulations planned to afford better
security against the infection of human beings through the medium of articles
of diet derived from tuberculous animals.
" More particularly we would urge action in this sense in order to avert or
minimise the present danger arising from the consumption of infected milk.
And in this connection it may be convenient lor us to repeat certain facts
observed by us in reference to the conditions tending to the elimination by the
tow of bovine tubercle bacilli in her milk; facts in our opinion of such importance
that they formed the subject of our third interim report. Bovine tubercle
bacilli are apt to be abundantly present in milk as sold to the public when there
is tuberculous disease of the udder of the cow from which it was obtained.
This fact is, we believe, generally recognised though not adequately guarded
against. But these baci li may also be present in the milk of tuberculous cows
presenting no evidence whatever of disease of the udder even when examined
post-mortem. Further, the milk of tuberculous cows not containing bacilli as
it leaves the udder may, and frequently does, become infective by being contaminated
with the fæces or uterine discharges of such diseased animal. We
are convinced that measures for securing the prevention of ingestion of living
bovine tubercle bacilli with milk would greatly reduce the number of cases of
abdominal and cervical gland tuberculosis in children, and that such measures
should include the exclusion from the food supply of the milk from the recognisably
tuberculous cow, irrespective of the site of the disease, whether in the
udder or in the internal organs."
Bacterioloqical Examination of Milk.— Twenty samples of Milk were taken by
the Food Inspectors at the principal railway stations in St. Pancras for
bacteriological examination. These samples were sent to Dr. Eyre, at Guy's
Hospital, and his report appears in detail in the Council Minutes of the 29th
November, 1911. Upon the reception of this report the Council passed the
following resolutions : —
(a) " That the Council view with serious concern the condition of the
milk examined at the railway stations in St. Pancras as shown in the
bacteriological report, and express the strong conviction that legislative
action should be taken forthwith which would ensure that clean
and wholesome milk be sent to the people of London."