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In regard to the sample of tuberculin-tested milk which was found to be infected,
subsequent investigation failed to discover the source of infection, apart from the
possibility that it lay in dried milk encrusted on the churn in which the tuberculitested
milk was conveyed ; this matter was referred to the local authority concerned,
and steps were taken to ensure as far as possible that there should be no recurrence
of infection in this way.
The fact that a larger percentage of samples of accredited milk should have
proved tuberculous than of ungraded milk has been the cause of concern, as it was
considered that some of this milk might not be pasteurised before consumption,
and an arrangement was made with the Milk Marketing Board whereby they will be
informed when a sample of milk, of any grade, is found to be tuberculous and there
is no evidence that it is to be pasteurised before sale. They would then arrange for
milk from the infected source to be pasteurised. It was ascertained, however, that
all the milk from which positive samples were obtained during the year was to be
pasteurised before distribution; no notification, therefore, was made to the Milk
Marketing Board in accordance with the above arrangement.
The milk subject to sampling in 1937 was received from 30 counties. Where
the sample proved to be tuberculous the medical officer of the county of origin was
notified and arrangements were made by him for the farm from which the milk
originated to be visited and the herd examined. As a result of such consequential
investigations 90 cows were dealt with under the Tuberculosis Order, 1925, as
against 135 in 1936, the reduction being due to the smaller number of tuberculous
samples found in 1937. The result of investigations made by the county authorities
during 1937 is as follows :—

*In some of these cases cows had been removed from the herd in the interval between sampling
and result of examination.
†In 5 cases investigation is being delayed by the existence of foot and mouth disease restrictions
over the area in which the herds are situated.
The cows kept at institutions under the control of the Council have been
inspected quarterly by the Council's veterinary surgeons, and samples of the milk
have been taken at least twice during the year. The results of sampling and of
veterinary inspection were as follows :—
Cows at
institutions
under the
control of the
Council