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39
this further advice on the subject, the Committee recommended:—
That in the interests of the public health, and with a view
to preventing the spread of tuberculous diseases
among children, a communication be addressed to the
Local Government Board, pointing out the need for
legislation dealing with the sale of milk contaminated
with tubercle bacilli; also that it be suggested to the
other local authorities in the metropolis that their
co-operation in the matter would be to the advantage
of the public health.
Professor Delepine, writing in the British Medical Journal on
Tuberculosis and the Milk Supply, says:—
In the fight against tuberculosis in cattle by private enterprise
unsupported by the State it seems to me that the
following lines are clearly indicated:—
1. Healthy cowsheds, well lighted and ventilated, easily
cleaned, arranged so as to separate the animals as completely
as possible from each other and to prevent the
food and litter of one from being contaminated by others.
Good water supply. After discovery of a tuberculous
animal thorough disinfection of its stall and if possible of
the whole shed.
2. Isolation sheds of the same kind for cattle found to
be affected with a moderate or slight degree of tuberculosis.
3. Stalls well isolated from the others might be provided
in this shed for animals which have not been tested and
have to be kept in quarantine until tested, or better still
a special testing shed frequently disinfected might be
provided.
4. Immediate slaughter of all cows in an advanced state
of tuberculosis.
5. Fattening of cows with moderate tuberculosis, these
cows not to be allowed to come again at any time in contact
with the healthy ones.
6. Any dairy produce from these tuberculous cows to
be sterilised. If butter be made the cream should be
treated for some time at 85°, which does not interfere with
the making of good butter (Bang). Tuberculous cows
should, however, be fattened as soon as possible and their
milk used as short a time as possible.