144 MILK AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH chap. 



certain proportion of the cases of human tuberculosis are due 

 to infection of the human body with tubercle bacilli of bovine 

 origin. The exact proportion is still a matter of dispute and 

 uncertainty. A large number of facts have, however, been 

 ascertained which give some idea of the probable amount of 

 tuberculosis of bovine origin in man. 



The English Eoyal Tuberculosis Commission (1901-11)^ 

 investigated 108 cases of human tuberculosis other than lupus. 

 The following is a tabular summary of their results : 



In connection with these results the Commissioners 

 remark : 



Although the bovine tubercle bacillus may, as it appears, be 

 solely responsible for certain cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (con- 

 sumption), and though it may be present with the human tubercle 

 bacillus in the bronchial glands, it is evident from the data recorded 

 that the majority of cases in which the bovine tubercle bacillus is 

 the infective agent in the human being are cases of alimentary 

 tuberculosis. Such are cases of cervical gland and primary ab- 

 dominal tuberculosis. In the latter class of cases at least the 

 tubercle bacillus has unquestionably been swallowed. Eeceived in 

 this way the tubercle bacillus, whether human or bovine, may pass 

 through the pharyngeal or buccal mucous membrane and infect the 



Final Report, 1911. 



