[Report 1936] / Monmouthshire County Council.

  • Monmouthshire (Wales). County Council.
Date:
1936
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1936] / Monmouthshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/132 (page 45)
    test is employed in cases where bacteriological examination of the sample has proved to be suspicious but has not shown definite evidence of Tubercuk sis, also a close watch is kept upon the cow before its milk is again allowed to be mixed with that of the herd. ^X^ith regard to the slaughter of infected animals, it has been found that action taken under the Tuberculosis Order by the Veterinary Inspectors appointed under the Diseases of Animals Acts is better than utilising the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act. 1915; much over- lapping is thus eliminated. Copies of all reports upon the bacteriological exam- ination of “ informal ” samples are sent to the local Sanitary Inspectors, and where evidence pointing to want of care in handling the milk after it has left the cow, or to its contamination in other ways is reported, a warning is sent to the offender by the Clerk to the Local Sanitary Authority, which, in practically every case has had the effect of an immediate improvement in the condition of the milk. Further details regarding the samples taken during the year 1936 will be found in the report of the County Bacteriologist and Patholo- gist earlier in this Report. The dairy herds at 101 farms were inspected by the County Veterinary Surgeon, in company with the County Sanitary Inspector, and 1,272 cows were examined. The number of samples of milk taken from the cows examined was 441 and in every instance the Department was successful in locating the cow or cows affected with Tuberculosis, and which were giving milk containing tubercle bacilli. Notices were given under the Tuberculosis Order regarding these cows, and they were examined after slaughter by the District Sanitary Inspectors and the County Sanitary Inspector. The post mortem examination of the carcase proved in each instance the bacteriological examination of the milk at the County Laboratory by the County Bacteriologist. Every carcase examined was condemned as unfit for human consumption and destroyed. In some of the districts of the County, the Sanitary Inspectors take “ informal ” samples and test the milk by means of a Minit Tester, for the purpose of demonstrating to the retailer and producer the presence or otherwise of dirt or other gross foreign matters. From the reports which have been received from the districts, the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milk- shops have been periodically Inspected, and there Is further improvement to be noted in the general condition of these premises, but there is still room for further improvement. In some of the districts trouble is experienced in obtain- ing general improvements in the structural condition of Cowsheds on account of the owners who are not the tenants not being prepared to expend anything upon the work. However, although some progress has been made in recon- struction, every effort is still being made to instill into these cowkeepers the absolute necessity for scrupulous cleanliness, and education on this matter has been attempted rather than legislation, with beneficial results. Arrangements have been made with the Chief Constable for the notification of all animals Intended to be slaughtered under the Tuberculosis Order, 1925. The date and time of slaughter is given, and the County Sanitary Inspector has attended foT