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34
Year.
Percentage showing
Tuberculous Infection.
Year.
Percentage showing
Tuberculous Infection.
1904 7.7 per cent. 1915 8.5 per cent.
1905 9 1 „ 1917 4.2
1906 8.0 „ 1919 14.8
1907 8.3 „ 24.2 „ 1st series.
1st series 1 909 12 .5 „ 1921 26.3 „ 2nd „
2nd series 4.7 ,, 12.5 „ 3rd „
1910 6.25 „ 1922 9.5
1912 6.6 „ 1923 2.6
1913 10.4 „ 1924 12.8
1914 10.2
As in previous years, details of the samples shown to be infected with
tubercle bacilli were forwarded to the Medical Officer of Health of the London
County Council. Enquiries were instituted by him at the several farms mentioned,
and the following information obtained :—
Sample No. 24.—The Council's Veterinary Inspector reports that the farm is conducted
on " up.to.date " principles and possesses a herd of 21 cows. No evidence of disease could
be detected, all the animals being healthy and well cared for. Several cows, however, had
been sold in the interval between the taking of the sample and the examination of the cows
on the 17th inst., and it is possible that the sample was that of a milk from one of these.
Sample No. 30.—Forty.five cows. No evidence of disease .could be detected, but one
cow, on account of suspected tuberculosis, had been sold previously. The condition of the
herd was quite satisfactory.
Sample No. 32.—Fifty.five cows. One cow suffering from generalised tuberculosis, is
to be slaughtered, and was, in fact, being removed on the day of the Inspector's visit.
Sample No. 37. The farmer has died since the sample was taken and the whole of the
stock was sold on the 1st instant. The present farmer is not sending milk to London.
Sample No. 41.—One cow, with a suspicion of tuberculosis is to be " put dry " and
prepared for slaughter. Several other animals have recently been sold for slaughter. The
herd, as a whole, is young and well looked after. 84 cows were examined.
At the same time as the above milks were obtained for bacteriological examination
samples were also taken for the purpose of chemical analysis. With two
exceptions these samples proved to be genuine milk and all were free from boric
acid or formalin. The offences in the cases of these two exceptions were :—
Sample No. 636 2% of added water.
Sample No. 658 4% of added water.
The vendors of these samples were cautioned.
Four subsequent samples were obtained from the vendor of No. 636, one of
which was reported as having had 4% of the original fat abstracted. Theotherthree
samples conformed to the required standard. The vendor was cautioned again.
It was not possible to obtain a further sample from the vendor of Sample
No. 658, as he has ceased sending milk to the City.
In order that the danger of contamination during the process of sampling may
be reduced to a minimum, suitable precautions are taken. On the arrival of the
milk train and as soon as the churns have been deposited on the platform, certain
churns are selected from which it is proposed to take the samples. The milk in
these churns is thoroughly mixed with a clean plunger. A stout new indiarubber
band is then twisted round the neck of the sample bottle to form a handle. The
bottle is always sterilised by the bacteriologist before use. The stopper is removed
and the bottle lowered into the milk and filled. The bottle is withdrawn from the
churn, the stopper immediately replaced and a clean linen cover tied over it. It
is then labelled. Six samples are taken at one session.
In order that there shall be no transference of infection or contamination from
one churn to another, through the medium of the plunger, this is thoroughly
cleansed with hot water and soda before use, and after each sample has been stirred
it is washed in running water, and dried with a clean cloth.
Each plunger is only used twice, so that three are required to take the six
samples. The cloth on which the plunger is dried is only used once.