REPORT OF THE No. 55 



CHAPTER II. 



Being a Resume of the Milk Laws of the Province and By-Laws of 

 Cities, Together with some Facts and Opinions as to their Opera- 

 tion, and a History of the Medical Milk Commission Movement 



To -understand conditions and needs, it is first necessary to set forth present 

 legislative enactments governing the "production, care and distribution of milk 

 for human consumption and manufacturing purposes." Like all other Canadian 

 laws, these come under three heads federal, provincial and municipal. In 

 matters of agriculture, under which dairying naturally comes, the Dominion and 

 Provincial authorities have concurrent powers, the federal being supreme. The 

 provinces, therefore, may make practically what laws they choose within reason. The 

 municipalities', which receive their powers from the provincial legislatures, may 

 make only such by-laws as are within the scope thereby delegated. 



The production, care and distribution of milk being largely a provincial 

 and municipal matter, it is not the subject of any extensive federal legislation. 

 The Health of Animals Branch of the Dominion Department of Agriculture 

 encourages good breeding by means of the " record of performances " and other 

 agencies, combats contagious diseases', administers the quarantine regulations and 

 has charge of the enforcement of the tuberculin test on animals for import or ex- 

 port. The tuberculin test consists in injecting a small quantity of tuberculin be- 

 neath the skin and taking the temperature of the animal at intervals both before 

 and after. If the temperature rises to a certain degree, it is proof that the animal, 

 in some part, suffers from tuberculosis. This is described as " reacting." The 

 tuberculosis law provides that all cattle whie# have reacted to the tuberculin test 

 shall be deemed to be affected with tuberculosis and shall be permanently marked 

 as the Veterinary Director-General may prescribe. No reacting cattle shall be 

 permitted to be exported. Imported cattle must be quarantined a week and tested, 

 and if found to react, shall be permanently marked in the right ear with the 

 letter " T '' and released, except cattle from the United States and Mexico, which 

 will be slaughtered. Cattle showing clinical symptoms' of tuberculosis shall be 

 destroyed or otherwise disposed of, as the Minister may direct. In addition, the 

 Department agrees to supply tuberculin free of cost to anyone making application 

 and agreeing to have his' herd tested by a qualified veterinarian, make a report 

 of the result to the Department and have reactors earmarked. No compensation is 

 provided for. 



Then, the Dairy Branch of the Federal Department of Agriculture, by con- 

 testing associations, cheese and butter experiments and other educational agencies, 

 works to develop the manufacturing side of the dairy industry, especially butter 

 and cheese for export. 



Milk being a food, a general clause against adulteration is included in the 

 federal Pure Food Act, and this clause, we understand, will be extended in the 

 revision now being made by the federal authorities. 



HISTORY OF PROVINCIAL LAWS. 



It will thus be seen that the federal enactments affect but little and interfere 

 not at all with the provincial and municipal legislation on the question. Alike 

 because it is the higher authority and because this enquiry has' proceeded from the 



