508 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



whole trend of the Report the other. In one instance of 

 critical importance the statement in the Report is diametrically 

 opposed to the statement of the expert engaged in the 

 investigation of the question. 



In the Second Interim Report (page 7) the following passage 

 occurs : 



"The Effects of Introducing the Bacillus of Bovine Tuber- 

 culosis into the Body of the Bovine Animal 



11 We have adopted two chief methods of introduction : 

 (1) Feeding, (2) Injection into the tissues. We considered the 

 desirability of making use of a third method, viz. the introduc- 

 tion of the bacillus into the lungs by the air-passages ; but 

 decided not to adopt this method, at least in the first instance." 



This passage is eminently characteristic of the Report. It 

 is generally agreed that the infection of tuberculosis commonly 

 gains entrance to the human body by way of the respiratory 

 tract. The Commissioners at the very beginning of their 

 investigation immediately proceed to put out of court inhalation 

 experiments ; and, so far as can be ascertained from all the 

 subsequent publications, no inhalation experiments were carried 

 out at any time. 



Even more characteristic of the Report is the summary 

 manner in which the Commissioners deal with this critical 

 point. Why did they decide " u not to adopt this method " ? 

 They give no reasons. It is sufficient for them to state their 

 decision. This assumption of infallibility is a distinguishing 

 and amusing feature of the Report and is probably the 

 explanation of the failure of the Royal Commissioners to 

 appreciate the real nature of the scientific problems they were 

 called upon to study. 



Throughout the Report the Commissioners write as if they 

 were obsessed by the idea that they have been appointed to 

 bring in a verdict that a good deal of the tuberculosis prevalent 

 in man is conveyed to him by means of cows' milk. It is a con- 

 clusion wholly divorced from reality and it would be strongly 

 and earnestly contested by nearly every practical physician who 

 has studied the incidence of the disease. The fact is that 

 the endeavour to trace any considerable amount of tubercular 

 disease in man to infection by means of cows' milk has com- 

 pletely failed ; those who have made the attempt have pointed 



