London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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55
Mr. Shaw's reports also show the action taken for the elimination of tuberculous cows from
the London cowsheds, thus—
First period.—Three cows were affected with tubercular disease of the udder, and six presented
symptoms of tuberculosis.
Of the three cows affected with tubercular disease of the udder, one was sent to the knackers,
one to the public slaughterhouse, where the whole carcase was seized and condemned, and the third
cow was sold in the public market.
Of the six cows presenting symptoms of tuberculosis, three were sent to the knackers' yards
and three to the slaughterhouses in the Islington market. The latter, after death, were examined by
the meat inspector and found to be locally affected. The parts so diseased were seized and condemned
the remainder of the carcases being passed for food.
Under the instruction of the Public Health Committee, samples of milk were taken from eight
cows suspected to be suffering from tubercular disease of the udder and submitted to Dr. Houston
for bacteriological examination. Three of the samples so submitted proved to be tuberculous.
Twenty.seven cows which were affected with mastitis were kept under observation until they
either recovered or were removed from the sheds for slaughter.
Second period.—Samples of milk were taken from six cows suspe .ted to be affected with tubercular
disease of the udder and submitted for bacteriological examination. Four of these were found to be
free from tubercle bacilli. The animals from which the other two samples were taken were sent by
order of the owners to the knackers before the results of the examination were known, but, upon postmortem
examination of the carcases, Mr. Shaw was unable to discover any lesions of disease in the
udder, although the lungs in each case were badly affected.
Forty cows which were affected with mastitis were kept under observation until they either
recovered or were removed from the sheds for slaughter.
Third period.—Samples of milk were taken from eight cows suspected to be affected with
tubercular disease of the udder and submitted for bacteriological examination. Three of them were
found to be tuberculous, three gave negative results, and in the case of the remaining two the results
of the examination were not then known. The three cows in respect to which the milk samples gave
positive results were seized and slaughtered, the owners being compensated under the provisions of the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904. On a post.mortem examination being made of
the carcases, the animals were found to have tubercular lesions of the udder and the carcases were
destroyed.
Thirty.seven cows which were affected with mastitis and ten affected with chronic induration
of the udder were kept under observation until they either recovered or were removed from the sheds
for slaughter.
In summary it may be stated that during the year, 26 samples of milk were taken by Mr.
Shaw from 22 cows suspected to be suffering from tubercular disease of the udder, and submitted to
Dr. Houston for bacteriological examination. In the case of seven cows the samples taken proved to
be tuberculous, negative results were obtained in respect to 14 cows, and the sample taken from one cow
was unfit for inoculation purposes. It was not possible to procure a further sample in this instance,
as the animal in question had already been sold to a butcher at Sittingbourne. Two of the tuberculous
cows, a few days after the samples had been taken, were disposed of for human food (one being sent to
the market and one to a butcher at Limehouse), one was sent to Messrs. Harrison, Barber and Co.
and the carcase sold for cat's meat, one was sent to the market by the owner and the carcase destroyed ;
while three seized by the Council's veterinary surgeon under the General Powers Act, were slaughtered
and the carcases destroyed, compensation being allowed to the respective owners.

Milkshop Premises.

The following table shows the number of milkshop premises on the register at the end of 1904, the number of inspections of such premises made, the number of notices served, and the number of prosecutions. The table has been compiled from information given in the several annual reports.

Sanitary Area.Number ef places.Number of inspections, 1904.Number of notices, 1904.Number of prosecutions 1904.
On Register at end of 1903.Added in 1904.Removed in 1904.On Register at end of 1904.
Paddington174311166
Kensington291
Hammersmith26923172751,100641
Fulham272284225852042-
Chelsea12310-13331516-
Westminster, City of30330412922981-
St. Marylebone323*

* Including inspections of cowsheds.
6108] H 2