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43
Inasmuch as the animals injected with the sediment of samples Nos. 1, 4, 7 and
21, died respectively, of extensive gangrene, septicaemia, malignant oedema, and
septicaemia, shortly after inoculation, these samples were lost for the tubercle test, and
in order to complete the investigation into the conditions of these particular samples,
further specimens from the same sources as Nos. 1, 4 and 7 were obtained. It was
impossible, however, to get a sample from the source of No. 21, as the supply had
been discontinued.
'1 he result of the examination of these samples was as follows:—
"Sample la.—Appreciable amount of dirt, the injection into guineapigs was
"quite negative. Killed after 23 days. The animals show
"locally and viscerally no change.
"Sample 4a.—Little dirt. The action of the milk was local suppuration
"with a few miliary abscesses in the liver after 22 days. No
"tubercle bacilli.
"Sample 7a.—Very little dirt. Local extensive tumour in one week. Death
"after 18 days. Extensive septic oedema."
For comparative purposes, I print below the summary of the results of the several
series taken during the years 1904-1911.
1904. 1905. 1906. 1907-8. 1909. 1910.* 1911.
1st Series. 2nd Series.*
Character of Milk. % °/° % % % % % %
Fairly clean and pare 48.7 68.2 80 54.2 43.7 66.6 75 28.6
Unclean 43.6 22.7 12 37.5 43.8 33.3 25 71.6
Tuberculous 7.7 9.1 8 8.3 12.5 4.7 6.25 Nil.
For the first time since these enquiries were instituted (1902), no samples were
found to contain the tubercle bacillus, and although this is satisfactory, the increase in
the number of samples in which dirt was found (the highest since the system was
commenced) together with the high percentage of pathogenicity, is regrettable, and
indicates a very unsatisfactory state of affairs, either at the farm itself, or during
transit.
In all cases where the samples yielded unsatisfactory results, the dairymen were
called upon to furnish a certificate of a Veterinary Surgeon as to the health of the cows
from which the milk was derived, and a report of the Medical Officer of Health for the
district as to the sanitary condition of the premises.
In five instances, Nos. 4, 5, 9, 21 and 25, the Veterinary Surgeon certified that the
unhealthy cows had been found in the herd, and in one case (9), the premises were
reported unsatisfactory.
While there is no doubt that much of the impurity finds its way into the milk at
the point of production, I am of opinion that the conditions of transit, although they
have somewhat improved of late years, are also largely responsible for the dirty nature
of the milk on its arrival.
The type of churn, usually used by the wholesale dairyman, a few years ago was
of a most unsatisfactory design, being fitted with a cup-shaped lid, in which was drilled
so called "ventilation" holes, through which dust or dirt found ready access to the
contents.
* It will be noticed that the 100 per cent, is made up of clean and unclean samples only in these years.
The samples in which tubercle was found also contained dirt.