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In several instances it was found that cows, certified by the Council's veterinary inspector to be
suffering from tubercular disease of the udder, were sold by their owners to cowkeepers outside the
county, and, in order to avoid the possibility of the milk from such animals being sold for human food,
the Council sought power to remove and slaughter any cows suspected to be suffering from tubercular
disease of the udder. This authority was conferred upon them by Part V. of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act,' 1904. This Act came into force on 15th August, 1904.
The cows in the London cowsheds were periodically inspected by Mr. W. F. Shaw, the County
Council's veterinary inspector, and his assistant, with a view to the detection of cows suffering from
tubercular disease of the udder. Thus, during 1905, there were four periodical inspections of all
the cows in the London cowsheds. The number of cows found by Mr. Shaw to be affected in one or
another way is shown in the following table :—

Mr. Shaw's reports also show the action taken for the elimination of tuberculous cow? from
the London cowsheds, thus—
First period.—Samples of milk were taken by Mr. Shaw from seven cows suspected to be affected
with tubercular disease of the udder, and submitted for bacteriological examination. Two of them
proved to be tuberculous. Of the two cows from which the positive samples were taken, one was
slaughtered by the owner before the result of the bacteriological examination of the milk had become
known, whilst the other animal was seized and slaughtered, the owner being compensated under the
provisions of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904. In the latter case the cow was
apparently in good condition when slaughtered, but on a post-mortem examination being made of
the carcase, the internal organs were discovered to be so badly affected with tuberculosis that the carcase
was condemned as unfit for human food, and destroyed.
Three cows affected with general tuberculosis, as well as a cow suffeiing with septicemia from
udder infection, were sent by the owners to the knacker's yaid.
Eighteen cows were affected with acute mastitis and five cows had chronic induration of the
udder—the result, Mr. Shaw thinks, of previous attacks of mastitis; these cows were kept under
observation.
Second period.—Four cows were suspected to be affected with tubercular disease of the udder.
Samples of milk were taken from three of them and submitted to bacteriological examination. No
tubercle bacilli, however, were found to be present. In the fourth case the cow was slaughtered by order
of the owner and removed to the knacker's yard, as the animal had developed symptoms of septicaemia.
Twenty-seven cows which were affected with mastitis were kept under observation until the
affected quarters of their udders either recovered or became atrophied, except that in a few instances
the cows were removed from the sheds and slaughtered by the owners. There was an increase of 37
in the number of dried-off cows or cows giving milk of poor quality, but this increase is due to the
smaller demand for fat beasts during the hot weather.
Third period.—Three cows were suspected to be affected with tubercular disease of the udder,
and two were at once removed for slaughter under the provisions of the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1904. Mr. Shaw's suspicions proved to be well founded, and compensation was
paid to the respective owners as provided by the Act. From the third suspected animal a sample of
milk was taken for bacteriological examination, with the result that the cow was proved to be suffering
from tuberculosis of the udder. In the meantime, the owner had caused the animal to be killed
and its carcase to be removed to the knackers.
The large number of dried-off cows (58), and of cows having atrophy of one or more quarters
of the udder (209), or affected with chronic mastitis (34), was due to the cheapness of country milk and
to the inability of the owners to obtain during July and August a reasonable price for fatted beasts.