Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the administrative procedures for controlling danger to man through the use as food of the meat and milk of tuberculous animals.
- Great Britain. Royal Commission on Tuberculosis
- Date:
- 1898
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the administrative procedures for controlling danger to man through the use as food of the meat and milk of tuberculous animals. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
478/502 page 434
![Hopkin, Mr. Morgan— cont. was largely due to business considerations, 7.376-8. Has never heard of the system of insurance against loss adopted by members of his federation, 7333-47, but considers compensation for loss arising out of seizures where animals cost upwards of 10Z.should be paid by the Imperial Government, 7348-65. It is not the practice in Swansea to condemn carcases that are partly tuberculous, only those in which the disease is generalised, 7360. Is in favour of the stamping out of tuberculosis in animals, appreciates the great difficulties in doing so, but as a step in that direction would punish rather than compensate butchers found dealing in cheap cattle, costing from 31- to 4/., 7361-5, 7380-3. Considers that compensation should be paid for all articles of food purchased in good faith, and seized in the interests of public health, either by the local or Imperial authorities, 7391-7404. Has never availed himself of veterinary assistance in testing animals for tuberculosis, either at time of purchase or prior to slaughter, 7413-16. Does not think, that in tho purchase of fat cattle there is a trade risk which would warrant him in paying a less price because of any such risk, 7425-41. From personal observation he has come to regard pure bred shorthorns as more subject to tuberculosis than other breeds, and admits, in respect to them, that there is a certain risk, and that such risk would affect the question of compensation for loss, 7442-56. HUNTING, Mr. WILLIAM, F.R.C.V.S. (Digest of his Evidence). Ex-President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and Veterinary Inspector under the County Council of London, 7236-9. Has given much thought to the question of the suppression or diminution of tuberculous disease in animals. Suggests a modification of the existing glanders regulations, making notification com- pulsory ; recommends inspection and disinfection of premises where disease exists ; isolation, where practicable, of animals found to be affected, through the application of the tuberculin test, and the slaughter of animals visibly diseased, with compensa- tion by the local authority. Would not make the use of tuberculin compulsory, but thinks the Board of Agriculture should contribute to the expense of providing tuberculin, and also provide qualified veterinary surgeons who would be responsible for applying the test; this should not be left to every veterinary surgeon, and care should be taken that the tuberculin used was of good quality, 7242-9, 7294-309. Any attempt to stamp out tuberculosis in the same way as pleuro-pneumonia would be impracti- cable owing to the great cost; but acting on the principle in the Sale of Goods Act that a seller should not dispose of any deleterious article, thinks the purchaser of an animal, such as the dairyman or butcher, might have a warranty to extend over eight days that the animal was free from tuber- culosis ; this arrangement would, in his opinion, largely do away with claims for compensation. 7280-93. KAY, Mr. JAMES (Digest of his i vidence). President of the Lancashire Farmers' Association, Chairman of the Blackburn and District Farmers' Associa- tion, and Member of the Cattle Diseases Committee of the Central Chamber of Agriculture, 5193-7. Has taken an active part in drawing public attention to the subject of tuberculosis in cattle, and to the fact that carcases are seized and condemned, regardless of the extent of the disease, particularly in Lancashire, where he estimates that a loss of 25,000/. annually is incurred through seizures without compensation, 5198-211. Recommends compulsory notification, if accompanied by compensation, of suspected animals, and especially of milch cows, owing to the greater danger of infection from milk, 5212-7, 5334-7. Agrees with the resolution of the Central Chamber of Agriculture that all cows visibly ail'ected with tuberculosis should be slaughtered and compen- sation paid without regard to the cost it would entail on Imperial Exchequer, of which he has made no estimate, 5218-34, 5311-6, 5344-57. Kay, Mr. James—cont. Reference having been made to the Parliamentary Return of carcases seized in Lancashire on account of tuberculosis, as compared with the number said by witness to uave been seized, the witness disagreed with the accuracy of the official return; his personal loss was seven animals since 1892, he having farmed about 80 cattle, 60 being milch cows, 5243-86. Having regard to the greater stringency of inspection on the part of medical officers'of health in Lanca- shire and other places, he agreed with the suggestion that if some rule was made general that only carcases showing A ery general signs of tuberculosis should be condemned, it would greatly remove the present grievance, 5287, 5338. The isolation of suspected or infected cattle in ordinary dairy yards or farms would be difficult and expensive, 5325-30. Explains that indirectly the farmer is a loser by seizures from butchers, 5339-43. The system lately adopted by him in the purchase of young cattle instead of cows in full milk, namely, retaining the former for shorter periods after calving, and then selling them for slaughter is more profitable, although the initial cost is greater, 5318-21, 5358-66, 5372-81. KING, Mr. JAMES, M.R.C.V.S. (Digest of his Evidence). Veterinary Inspector of the City of Manchester, 7799-800. Describes the result of testing, with tuberculin, 13 milch cows, having previously obtained the sanction of owners, 7801-15. In the case of two of the cows the sale of their milk was prohibited by the medical officer of health, acting under the Manchester Cowsheds Order, of which he produced, a copy and read the passage, 7815-21. Admits, however, that they have no legal power to deal with milk in this manner, 7846. There are two public slaughter-houses and 96 private slaughter-houses in Manchester, 7822-3. Submits a return of the number of carcases condemned for tuberculosis in the public and private slaughter- houses during the years 1894-96, 7824-8, 7836-8, 7847-51, 7858-67. The increase in the number of carcases condemned arose from increased trade and better inspection, additional inspectors having been appointed, 7829-31. It is not customary in Manchester to condemn whole carcases unless the disease is generalised, 7835, 7839-43. In consequence of the number of cows condemned, as stated in the return, there is now a disinclination on the part of owners to have them slaughtered at the abattoir; they are slaughtered outside and reach the abattoir dressed, 7852-7, 7875-6. Has no knowledge of any trade being carried on in tuberculous cows at the present time, 7857. The profits on the public slaughter-house, after paying ordinary expenses, rent, and interest on capital, are about 3 per cent., 7868. His experience is opposed to the suggestion that butchers prefer dealing in foreign rather than home meat, 7871; but certain butchers who for- merly dealt in cows in Manchester now buy foreign meat, 7870, 7873-4. LANG, Mr. JOHN (accompanied by Mr. James Scarlett). Is President of the Paisley United Fleshers' Society, of which Mr. James Scarlett is Secretary, 5782-3. (See Mr. Scarlett's Evidence.) LITTLE JOHN, Dr. HENRY HARVEY, M.B., F.R.C.S.E. (Digest of his Evidence). Lecturer on Medical Jurisprudence and on Public Health at Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh, and Medical Officer of Health of Sheffield, 7614-16. In his latter capacity, which he has filled since 1891, his practice is to condemn all carcases showing signs of tuberculosis (hands in a return from the year 1890); the system of condemnation, admittedly severe, though acquiesced in, has given rise to dissatisfaction, 7617-32, 7637-5], 7679-96. In regard to the evidence of Mr. Pearson, who repre- sented the Sheffield Butchers' Association, it should be pointed out that his complaint of loss refers in great measure to cows consigned to him for sale, the loss falling on the consignori, 7628-31, 7709.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21365076_0478.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
