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Report of the County Medical Officer—General.
55
Section 5 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1908, gives power to local sanitary Milkshops.
authorities to remove from the register or to refuse to register the name of any person carrying on or
proposing to carry on the trade of a dairyman or purveyor of milk upon premises which are in the
opinion of the sanitary authority unsuitable for the purpose. These powers have been much used, with
the result that the sale of milk in general shoos has materially decreased in recent years.

Inspection
of milkshop
premises.
Cows kept in London cowsheds have been inspected since February, 1899, by a veterinary inspector
appointed by the Council under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order of 1899. Under this order,
the use of milk for human consumption from cows certified by a veterinary surgeon to be suffering
from tuberculosis of the udder is prohibited. In 1904 this power was supplemented in London by
additional powers, incorporated in the London County Council (General Powers) Act of that year, for
the removal of any cow from any dairy, farm or cowshed in the county (elsewhere than in the City),
if suspected to be suffering from tuberculosis of the udder, and if, upon slaughter, these suspicions were
verified, a sum equal to three-quarters of the agreed value of the animal (not exceeding £22 10s.)
became payable by the Council. If the cow is proved to be free from tuberculosis of the udder, the full
agreed value (not exceeding £30), together with a further sum of £1, became payable by the Council.
Further powers have been conferred upon the Council by the Tuberculosis Order of 1913, which
came into operation on 1st May, 1913. Under this order, the Council is required not only to deal with
cows affected with tuberculosis of the udder, but also with cows giving tuberculous milk, or suffering
from induration or other chronic disease of the udder, and with all bovine animals suffering from tuberculosis
with emaciation.
The veterinary inspector is empowered, with the owner's consent, to apply the tuberculin test in
cases where the evidence of disease obtained by clinical methods is not conclusive. All persons having
in their possession or under their charge animals which appear to come within the purview of the order,
including animals exposed for sale in market or sale yards, and all veterinary surgeons detecting such
cases in the course of their practice, are required to notify the cases to the Council, and it is the duty
of the Council to arrange for the veterinary examination of such animals and, if affected with tuberculosis
in any of the forms specified in the order, the animal has to be valued on two bases, (i.) on the
basis that the animal is not affected with tuberculosis, and (ii.) on the basis that it is so affected.
Tuberculosis
of the udder
in London
cows.
London
County Council
(General
Powers) Act,
1904 (Part V.)
(a) Figures in italics refer to persons registered.
† The milkshop premises are being re-registered under new regulations.