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128
TUBERCULOSIS AND MILK.
The infective nature of Phthisis is now so generally realised that there are
few persons not aware of the necessity for insisting upon all reasonable steps
being taken to prevent its spread.
Although probably not the most important, there can be but little doubt as
to the causal effect of tuberculous meat and milk, the latter being undoubtedly
the more powerful.
The opinion of Professor Koch as to the great influence of infected sputa is
shared by most practical observers, although his dictum that the extent of
"infection by the milk, and flesh of tubercular cattle, and the butter made of
"their milk, is hardly greater than that of hereditary transmission, and I
"therefore do not deem it advisable to take any measures against it," is
certainly not at present accepted.
Until the Report of the Royal Commission is issued it would certainly be
most unwise to omit any precautions in dealing with these infected products.
It is clearly proved that the use of "Sterilized" or "Pasteurized" milk is
free from danger, if reasonable care be taken to keep it free from subsequent
possibility of contamination.
But this implies a considerable expenditure of time and trouble, added to
a certain increased cost, which will certainly prevent its general adoption,
especially among the poorer classes.
It is a remarkable fact that while tubercular disease at all ages has greatly
diminished in this country during the last half century, that among children
during the first years of life has practically remained stationary. The diminution
in tubercular diseases at all ages is due to the great improvement in the
hygienic condition of the people generally, while the high rate among young
children is probably owing to the ingestion of infected cows' milk. Observations
show that a very large percentage of milk cows are affected to some
extent with Tuberculosis.
Mr. James King states that of 500 carcasses of cows examined by him only
266, or 53.2 per cent., were found to be entirely free from disease, and that
all the remainder showed tubercular lesions in some part or other. It has been
asserted that the tubercle bacillus is found only in the milk of animals in
which the mammary glands are diseased. The proportion of cows so affected
in this country is found to be about 2 per cent. of the total number examined,
and if this were correct it would appear that the risk is but small.
Unfortunately, however, this cannot be absolutely accepted, while at the same
time there are other undoubted indirect ways in which the milk can become
contaminated. The dust of the cowshed or byre in which tuberculous animals