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60
The disputed question of the transference of bovine
tuberculosis to man has been carefully investigated by the
Royal Commission to consider this matter. In the second
Interim Report issued in 1907 the Commission report as
follows:—
"There can be no doubt but 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 bacilli of bovine tuberculosis, and there
can be no doubt that in the majority at least of these cases
the bacilli is introduced through cow's milk. Cow's milk
containing bovine tubercle bacilli is clearly a cause of tuberculosis,
and of fatal tuberculosis to man."
Further important information on this subject is contained
in the third Interim Report of the Royal Commission,
recently issued. The question before the Commissioners was
"What danger, if any, attaches to milk of tuberculous cows
in which the udder presents no evidence of the disease?"
Cows used in the experiments were those only in which
the presence of tuberculosis could be detected by means of
the tuberculin test. It was found that milk from such cows
contained tubercle bacilli, and the conclusion the Commissioners
came to, was that the milk of such cows must be considered
dangerous to man.
It was also found that the intestinal excretion of these
cows was affected with tubercle bacilli, and in consequence the
Commissioners report that "the presence of tuberculous cows
in company with healthy cows is dangerous, as some of the
tubercle bacilli which escape from their bodies in the excrement
are almost certain to find their way into the milk."
This latter statement shews, moreover, the great necessity of
keeping cowsheds well ventilated and in as cleanly a state as
possible.