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These results were satisfactory, as showing that so far as the samples
taken could indicate, the milk supply of the City was free from the tubercle
bacillus.
It must, however, be borne in mind that the number taken was small, and
will require to be supplemented later before any decided deduction can be
drawn therefrom, though, on the other hand, the samples represented a
considerable proportion of the milk supply.
A similar enquiry, carried out by the Medical Officer of the County Council
and Professor Klein in 1900, showed that of 97 samples of milk sent into
London seven contained the tubercle bacillus. In case of one supply only
was any reliable information forthcoming as to the condition of the udders,
and in this the animals were all certified to be free from tubercular disease.
From an examination of milk cows by the London County Council's
Veterinary Inspector (1900 and 1901), it was found that in 13,467 inspections
only 40 cases of actual or suspected tubercular disease of the udder were found.
On the other hand Professor Klein, who examined milk from some of the
others, found the bacillus present in one sample.
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF CITY MILK.
It will probably be convenient here to refer to the results of chemical
analysis of samples of milk, inasmuch as the adulteration of milk had been
found to exist to a large extent in the City, and the almost invariable defence
in cases of prosecution had been that the milk was sold in the same condition
as received, and that if impoverished in any way, this must have taken place
before delivery in London.
During the previous year, 1901, of 392 samples of milk purchased for
analysis, no fewer than 83, or 21.2 per cent., were found to be sophisticated.
In order to check the value of the above-mentioned defence, arrangements
were made to take samples under precisely the same conditions from the
churns on arrival from the country at the various City railway stations.
These were submitted to the City Analyst, whose results are appended:—