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36
Each of the herds at the institutions whence the three tuberculous samples were
derived was inspected. Both at Bexley and at Colney Hatch a tuberculous cow
was detected. In the case of the remaining sample, that taken at Colney Hatch on
30th July, 1928, a cow was considered to be in a suspicious condition. This animal
was put dry and has since been slaughtered. In accordance with the further instruction
of the Mental Hospitals Committee, the cows at the institutions have been
inspected every three months by the Council's veterinary surgeon. The results
are shown in the following table:—
No. of visits. No. of cows examined. No. of cows found
Suffering from tuberculosis. No. of cows found withother defects.
44 2,385 2 51

From this it appears that London milk was found to be more free from tubercle
than the imported milk to the extent of 0-9 per cent., and that there was a marked
difference (11-4 per cent.) in the percentage of guinea-pigs succumbing to an acute
intercurrent infection by organisms other than tubercle. This is what might be
expected when it is remembered that the London milk was sampled as, generally
speaking, it is used, soon after milking. In the case of the milk sent into London
from the country, the time necessarily elapsing between milking and delivery,
affording, as it does, many opportunities of contamination, during transport, in
wholesale and retail storage, and in final distribution, is undoubtedly a factor adverse
to the cleanliness of milk of distant origin.
During the autumn 59 further samples of milk were taken at 22 cowsheds.
Of these, two, taken from the same cowshed, were found to be tubercle infected
(or 3-8 per cent, of the total number of completed examinations), 51 revealed no
evidence of tubercle and in 6 cases the guinea-pig succumbed to an acute intercurrent
infection.
It has been found that frequent routine inspections result in a detection of disease
in the initial stages. At each of his visits the veterinary surgeon confers with farm
bailiffs and gives such advice as may be necessary. These conferences, together
with the system of routine inspections, assist materially in keeping the condition
of the herds at a high standard.
Milk from
London
cowsheds.
The Public Health Committee on 20th October, 1927, instructed the Medical
Officer" to arrange for some investigation to be made as to the comparative character
of London and imported milk." In accordance with this instruction, 80 samples
of milk were taken during the summer months at 34 cowsheds within the county.
The number of samples taken was determined by the number of cows in the cowsheds.
The results of the bacteriological examinations showed that in each of 5 samples
taken from 4 cowsheds the milk was tubercle infected, and in each of 6 samples
taken from 6 cowsheds the guinea-pig succumbed to an acute intercurrent infection.
The cows at the sheds from which the tuberculous milk was derived were inspected
with the following results:—
Cowshed 1.—Cow found to be suffering from lung tuberculosis. Slaughtered
voluntarily by owner.
Cowshed 2.— Do. Do.
Cowshed 3.—Two cows suffering from general tuberculosis. Slaughtered
voluntarily by owner.
Cowshed 4.—One cow suffering from tuberculosis of the udder and one suspicious
animal were slaughtered voluntarily by owner.