Notes on report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into pleuro-pneumonia and tuberculosis in the United Kingdom / by Peel Ritchie.

Date:
1889
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes on report of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into pleuro-pneumonia and tuberculosis in the United Kingdom / by Peel Ritchie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    in this question, it seems to nie that when the next stage is reached we ought again to step forward and petition in favour of the views expressed by Professor Horsley being made imperative. They both more strongly enforce the action to be taken for the extirpa- tion of tuberculosis in cattle. The Eeport considers that inspectors should have the same powers regarding animals suffering from tuberculosis as from pleuro- pneumonia. The Committee are of opinion that the slaughter of diseased animals would go far to stamp out tuberculosis; though, doubtless, owing to heredity, the process would be gradual. Another argument in favour of slaughter is the frequency with which pleuro- pneumonia and tuberculosis co-exist, and are mistaken the one for the other. Some of the arguments, it must be confessed, seem to imply that veterinary education does not sufficiently progress; but probably what the Committee feel is, that often these animals are not sub- mitted to veterinary inspection till they are exposed or after slaughter, and hence arises the difficulty. Seeing, however, if the Eeport is adopted and carried out by the Privy Council, the future of tuberculosis is reduced to a question of diagnosis, the improved instruction of veterinary surgeons and inspectoi's must follow, and more allowance in the recommendations should be made for the improvement of veterinary accuracy. ■ The last clauses of tlie Eeport consider the compensation to be given the owner for the compulsory slaughter of his animal, biit that is not a question which concerns us professionally. The Committee conclude by expressing their belief that, if their recommendations be firmly carried out, pleuro-pneumonia may within a moderate period be exterminated in this country; and although we cannot dare to indulge in such sanguine expectations with regard to tuberculosis, we still venture to hope that much may be done to reduce its extent, and to minimize a disease so dangerous alike to animals and to mankind. President and Gentlemen, I have concluded my review of this Eeport. You will doubtless agree with me in regarding it as a very able one, and, further, that its conclusion as to Eemedial Measures could be no other than it is. You must remember that the Com- mittee were appointed for practical rather than scientific ends, and that, as expressed by Professor Brown (7644, 5), under our Acts (Contagious Diseases Animals) we have absolutely no power what- ever to deal with the disease solely on the ground that we might take measures to prevent its extension to human beings. We are bound to show that our measures have reference mainly to the prevention of the extension of tlie disease among the lower animals. The evidence showed that tuberculosis was contagious, that it could be transmitted from one animal to another, from man to
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