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37
In the second Interim Report, dated January, 1907, it was shown that
human beings could be, and frequently were, infected with tuberculosis
through the consumption of milk. The Commission reported thereon in the
following terms :—
"There can be no doubt that in a certain number of cases the
"tuberculosis occurring in the human subject, especially in children, is
"the direct result of the introduction into the human body of the bacillus
"of bovine tuberculosis, and there can also be no doubt that in the
"majority, at least, of these cases the bacillus is introduced through
"cow's milk. Cow's milk containing bovine tubercle is clearly a cause
"of tuberculosis, and of latal tuberculosis in man."
"A very considerable amount of disease and loss of life, especially
"among the young, must be attributed to the use of cow's milk contain"ing
tubercle bacilli. The presence of tubercle bacilli in cow's milk can
"be detected, though with some difficulty, if the proper means be
"adopted, and such milk ought never to be used for food. There is far
"less difficulty in recognising clinically that a cow is distinctly suffering
"from tuberculosis, in which case she may be yielding tuberculous milk.
"The milk coming from such a cow ought not to form part of human
"food, and, indeed, ought not to be used as food at all.
"Our results clearly point to the necessity of measures more stringent
"than those at present enforced being taken to prevent the sale or the
"consumption of such milk."
Since these reports appeared, three large volumes have been published giving
a complete history of all the experiments that led the Commission to make
the pronouncements referred to above. The books contain an enormous
mass of material, including literary matter, illustrations and reports on
inoculation, feeding and other experiments, that although exceedingly
interesting and valuable from a scientific point of view, are of no attraction to
the general public.
One of the most interesting features of the appendices is contained in the
summary of feeding experiments.
These were made with bovine tubercle bacillus :—
1. To ascertain the relative susceptibility of different species of animals
to this mode of inoculation.
2. To study the anatomical distribution of tuberculosis produced by
feeding.
Many species of animals were employed for this purpose.