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He concluded by stating that, while it may not yet be decided that man is
absolutely immune to bovine tuberculosis, yet the susceptibility is so slight
that it is not worth while to take any measures of prevention.
Practically, in this country Professor Koch has at present no adherents,
and, while it is generally admitted that his opinion demands respect and
enquiry, there must be no relaxation of our present precautions until the
question has been definitely settled.
While the figures of the City Veterinary Inspector show that out of 500
cows examined after slaughter 46.8 per cent, were tuberculous*, it would be
folly to accept the views of Koch without absolute confirmation.
The Government wisely decided to thoroughly investigate the matter,
and a Royal Commission was appointed to inquire and report whether
tuberculosis in animals and man is one and the same disease; whether animals
and man can be reciprocally infected with it; under what conditions, if at all,
the transmission of the disease from animals to man takes place, and what are
the circumstances favourable or unfavourable to such transmission.
The great defect in all our legislation dealing with unsound or diseased
meat is that the onus of detecting it rests upon the Sanitary Authority, and
that at present therefore it can only be thoroughly carried out in large markets
where a staff of skilled inspectors can be kept.
If all meat were compelled to be inspected before being removed from the
slaughterhouse, it would tend to prevent the possibility of diseased meat
finding its way into consumption, and would eventually lead to the desirable
result of having all cattle intended for food of man killed in public slaughterhouses
under municipal control.
The following Circular Letter, issued by the Local Government Board in
September, defines the existing position, and strengthens the hands of the
Corporation by confirming its present procedure:—
Circular.
TUBERCULOSIS.
Local Government Board,
Whitehall, S.W.,
6th September, 1901.
Sir,
I am directed by the Local Government Board to state that at the
recent Congress on Tuberculosis Professor Koch called in question the
correctness of the opinion that tuberculosis can be transmitted from animals
to man. The views expressed by Professor Koch on this subject have not
received the general assent of scientific men; but, having regard to the great
* Vide Report presented to the Cattle Markets Committee, 10th April, 1902.