§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Minister of Health whether tubercle bacilli in milk are killed by sterilisation or pasteurisation as generally carried out; and whether he is aware of any means of killing tubercle bacilli in milk other than by sterilisation or pasteurisation?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am advised that pasteurisation carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Milk (Special Designations) Order confers a very substantial protection against infection by tubercle bacilli. It is probable that the process commercially described as sterilisation affords similar protection, and that this is true in a smaller degree of other methods of treating milk by heat. I am not aware of any other practicable means of killing tubercle bacilli in milk.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Minister of Health the proportion of milk estimated to be tuberculous from analysis of samples in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Leeds, liverpool, Plymouth, Cardiff, Hull, and Newcastle, respectively?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINSo far as the question relates to Edinburgh, it should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland.
1621WThe following statement was submitted:
NUMBER of SAMPLES of MILK taken in certain TOWNS in ENGLAND and WALES during 1924 for examination for TUBERCLE BACILLI and NUMBER found to be TUBERCULOUS. Place. Samples taken. Samples tuberculous. Percentage tuberculous. London (City) … 39 5 12.8 London (County) … 2,400 121 5.0 Birmingham … 303 26 8.6 Manchester … 590 48 8.1 Leeds … 68 1 1.5 Liverpool … 781 79 10.1 Plymouth … 11 2 18.2 Cardiff … 53 1 1.9 Kingston-on-Hull … 18 Nil. Nil. Newcastle-upon-Tyne … 220 7 3.2 Totals … 4,483 290 6.5