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decrease in the number of cows having defects of the udder, and attributes it in part to greater
care taken in the purchase of the cows. In his fifth report he states that the 6 cows affected
with tubercular disease of the udder were removed for slaughter. Samples of milk from the
4 cows suspected to be so suffering were sent to Dr. Klein for bacteriological examination. Two
cows were affected with tubercular disease of the lungs, one which had lesions of the udder
was removed for slaughter, the other was retained in the shed for a few weeks and kept under
constant inspection. Both these cows were followed to the slaughterhouse, the carcase of one
was totally condemned and the fore-quarters of the other. In this report he states that the
number of cases of vesicular eruption in the teats has increased. Fifty-seven affected cows
were kept under observation until the teats had healed, and in the worst cases the milk was
scalded before being sold for human food. Thirty-seven cows were affected with mastitis and
were periodically examined until they recovered or were removed for slaughter. In his sixth
report Mr. Shaw states that in each instance in which the cow was certified to be suffering from
tubercular disease of the udder the cow was removed for slaughter. In two of these cases the
carcases were condemned as unfit for human food. Three cows suspected to be suffering from
this disease were kept under observation until removed for slaughter. In no case, he states, was the
milk used while the animal remained in possession of the dairyman. Twenty-three cows
affected with mastitis were periodically examined until they recovered or were removed for
slaughter.
In June the Public Health Committee reported on the need for obtaining power to prevent
the importation into London of milk from cows suffering from tubercular disease of the udder
The committee referred to their report of the preceding year on the results of examination
of 97 samples of milk, 7 of which were found to contain tubercle bacilli. The Council on
that occasion sent a copy of the report to the Local Government Board and Board of Agriculture,
expressing the hope that some steps would be taken to render the periodical inspection of cattle
by veterinary surgeons obligatory throughout the country. No bill having been introduced,
the committee now pointed out that powers had been obtained by a number of municipal authorities,
the committee reporting as follows—
Samples of milk are examined, and, if found to contain tubercle bacilli, the medical officer of
health is authorised, after obtaining a magistrate's order, to inspect the farm from which the milk
comes, and, if accompanied by a veterinary surgeon, to inspect the cattle. The local authority is then
empowered to exclude from its district the milk from such farm if it finds it necessary to do so.
We think if this power were possessed by the London County Council, the owners of cows and the
authorities of districts outside London might possibly be led to institute a periodical examination of
cows, and thus, by the early exclusion from the milk supply of the milk of a particular cow suffering
from tubercular disease of the udder, to obviate the risk of the whole milk supply of the farm being
prohibited from coming into London. Some of the special Acts referred to contain other provisions
which would be useful in this connection. Thus, the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order of 1899,
which is in London enforced by the County Council, makes it illegal to sell milk from a cow having
a tubercular udder only after that disease has been certified by a veterinary surgeon. In Manchester,
however, a dairyman is liable to a penalty if he knowingly sells milk from a cow which is suffering from
this disease, and if he does not properly isolate such cow, irrespective of whether the disease has been
certified. Further, dairymen are required under the Manchester Act to notify to the medical officer of
health any cow affected with, or suspected of, or exhibiting signs of, tuberculosis of the udder.
In connection with the administration of the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order of 1899 in
London, additional power is needed by the Council, viz., that of seizing cows which the veterinary
inspector is of opinion are suffering from tubercular disease of the udder, and of requiring such cows to
be at once slaughtered. The Royal Commission on Tuberculosis recommended that, if the veterinary
surgeon's opinion is found to be incorrect, the owner should receive the full value of the animal; but
that, if the veterinary surgeon's opinion is found to be correct, then the owner should receive the value
of the carcase only. In this view we concur.
Under the terms of the standing order we have consulted the solicitor, who thinks that, though
the question is not free from doubt, upon the whole the Council has power to spend money in promoting
legislation in the direction indicated. If the Council adopts our recommendation the Parliamentary
Committee will no doubt carefully consider whether any or all of the powers desired can be obtained
by a clause in one of the Council's bills or whether a public bill would be necessary to give effect to
any or all of our proposals. The matter is in our opinion one of great moment as affecting the health
of the consumers of milk in London, and in which it is desirable to proceed without delay. It is necessary
under the standing order for proposals for legislation next session to be brought before the Council
at its first meeting in June. We accordingly now submit our proposals, but we have not yet had time
to consult the borough councils with regard to them. We hope to enlist the sympathy and support of
these bodies, and accordingly suggest that a copy of this report be sent to each, with an intimation
that any suggestions they may make will be considered.
On the recommendation of the committee the Council decided to seek legislation in the
next session to give effect to the proposals in the report.
Later in the year the committee reported to the Council that a cow which had been
certified by the Council's veterinary inspector to be suffering from tubercular disease of the
udder, was removed from a shed in London and sent to Romford, where it was sold in the market.
The purchaser could not be traced.
Offensive Businesses.
The duty of administering the by-laws of the London County Council regulating noxious
trades now devolves on the sanitary authorities. Few references are made to this subject in the
reports of medical officers of health. In Shoreditch, in one instance, the drains of a tripe boiler
were reconstructed. In Southwark, the several premises were proved on inspection to be clean
and in a proper sanitary condition, except that in one instance it was necessary to provide proper
vessels for receiving garbage. In Lambeth, the scraping of gut on a butcher's premises led to
the licence for the slaughterhouse being granted on condition, inter alia, that this work should
be abandoned. In Bermondsey only one complaint was received, and that was as to nuisance
from the keeping of scutch on the premises of a glue manufacturer.