View report page

58
It had been found in several instances 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 1906, 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 cows from the
London cowsheds, thus :—
First 'period.—One cow, affected with tubercular disease of the udder, was seized under the
London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1904, and slaughtered, the carcase being destroyed.
A bacteriological examination of the milk from two cows suspected of having tubercular disease
of the udder was made by Sir J. McFadyean, who, in each case, reported the milk to be free from
tubercle bacilli. The number of cases of mastitis and atrophy of one or more quarters of the udder
was slightly less than on the occasion of the previous inspection. Two cows affected with general
tuberculosis were ordered by the owner to be slaughtered.
Second period.—A sample of milk was taken from one cow, the udder of which presented lesions
of a suspicious character,and submitted for examination, the result of which proved the milk to contain
tubercle bacilli. The animal was seized under the London County Council (General Powers) Act, and
slaughtered, the carcase being destroyed and the owner compensated.
Third period.—Samples of milk were taken from two cows and submitted for examination.
Tubercle bacilli were found to be present in one of them. The cow from which this sample was taken
died during the period the milk was under examination, the carcase being cut up, boiled and given to
pigs. Mr. Shaw, in his report, particularly directs attention to the fact that at the time the sample
was taken the cow's udder appeared to be perfectly healthy, although the cow presented symptoms of
tuberculosis.
Fourth period.—Samples of milk were taken from two cows suspected to be affected with tubercular
disease of the udder, and in both cases Sir J. McFadyean reported that they contained tubercle
bacilli. One of the animals in question, before the result of the examination was known, was
sent by the owner to the Islington Cattle Market to be slaughtered. In the other instance, the animal
was seized and slaughtered under the Council's General Powers Act. Upon post-mortem examination,
Mr. Shaw found the carcase showed evidence of the presence of tuberculous disease of the udder. The
carcase, offal and hide were destroyed. A further sample of milk was taken from a cow affected with
tuberculosis of the lungs, but which presented no clinical symptoms of tubercular disease of the udder.
The inoculation test showed that tubercle bacilli were present in the sample. Prior to the result being
obtained, however, the animal was sent by the owner to the knackers to be slaughtered. Upon
post-mortem examination, Mr. Shaw found that the lungs were tuberculous, but was unable to
examine the udder, as it had been already disposed of.
Milkshop premises.
The following table shows the number of milkshop premises on the register of the sanitary
authorities at the end of 1906, the number of inspections made of such premises, the number