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23
It has been estimated that 4,000 fresh cases of human infection
due to the bovine type of tubercle occur annually, and that in
1928 the deaths from the bovine type were approximately 2,000.
Although these facts are serious, the figures of the Registrar
General suggest that the menace is a diminishing one, and that the
measures already in operation have not been in vain. There has
been a steady fall in the death-rate from tuberculosis, both of the
pulmonary and of the non-pulmonary type, but the fall in the
death-rate from that of the latter type has been much more marked
than in the pulmonary death-rate. This has been noticeable in
recent years and it suggests that the improvement is due to improved
methods in the general production of milk. It may therefore be
advisable to examine the methods which have recently been
adopted and which appear to have been partially successful, because
the increased fall in the non-respiratory type has been particularly
noticeable since the operation of the Milk & Dairies Consolidation
Act and the new Milk & Dairies Orders.
Although the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act was
passed in 1915, its provisions did not operate until 1925, and the
Milk & Dairies Order was issued in 1922, under which the Milk,
(Special Designations) Orders 1922 and 1923 were issued. Prior
to these ordinances, except in the case of private Acts of Parliament,
the Regulations governing the production and distribution harked
hack to the Dairies & Cowsheds Orders of 1885.
Before deeding with the condition of distribution, it might
be well to examine the provisions of the Milk (Special Designations)
Orders.
In the Order, details are set forth concerning the production
and sale of four kinds of milk—Certified, Grade A (Tuberculin
Tested), Grade A and Pasteurised Milk.
The highest grade of milk is the Certified Milk, but the
Grade A (Tuberculin Tested) differs from it only in the kind of
milk containers required. Both milks must be produced from
Tuberculin Tested cows, the bacterial count is similar and the
licenses to produce must be obtained from the Ministry of Health.
In the Grade A Milk, the herd is not Tuberculin Tested,
but the cows must be examined every three months by a veterinary
surgeon and certified free from clinical signs of Tubercle. The
bacteria must not exceed 200,000 per cubic centimetre of milk.
The County Councils and County Borough Councils are the
licensing authorities.