HC Deb 07 August 1888 vol 329 cc1832-3
MR. ESSLEMONT(for Dr. FARQUHARSON) (Aberdeenshire, W.)

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, considering the alarming statement recently made by Dr. Sims Woodhead and others with reference to the communication of consumption to the human subject from the milk of cows suffering from tuberculosis of the udder, he will direct an investigation to be made into the subject by the medical officers of his Department?

THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)

An investigation of the question whether consumption may be communicated to the human subject from the milk of cows suffering from tuberculosis of the udder would occupy much time and labour, and such an investigation could not be undertaken by the present medical staff of the Local Government Board. The Department has, however, for some time past been, and will continue to be, on the watch for any evidence of the communication of disease to human beings by the milk of tuberculous cows. Little or no evidence of this transmission reaches the Board from English sanitary observers.