1 909-] 



Tuberculosis Order of 1909. 



235 



for animals slaughtered in the public interest must, in the opinion of the 

 Board, be an essential feature of any such scheme. On the other hand, 

 the liability of the Local Authority to provide such compensation on the 

 present basis from public funds is a serious one, and cannot be con- 

 tinued unless events show that a return commensurate with the burden 

 imposed is being obtained. It behoves agriculturists, therefore, to 

 second the efforts of the public authorities by themselves taking measures 

 to eradicate the disease entirely from their herds by segregating all 

 bovine animals which respond to the tuberculin test, so as to prevent 

 tuberculosis from being spread within the herd, and the Board will be 

 prepared to advise how this can best be done in particular cases. 



14. The Board desire at the same time to point out to Public Health 

 Authorities that any extension in particular localities of the measures 

 now to be taken throughout the country generally, may prejudice their 

 general utility. The danger to the public health from the milk of a 

 cow presenting no clinical symptoms of tuberculosis and not giving 

 tuberculous milk, even should it re-act to the tuberculin test, is 

 admittedly small, and stockowners cannot be expected to pursue the 

 course suggested above unless they are satisfied that re-action to the 

 tuberculin test will not expose their herd to administrative action on 

 the part of Public Health Authorities. It is earnestly to be hoped, 

 therefore, that Public Health Authorities and their Officers will as far 

 as practicable conform in their procedure to the lines laid down in the 

 Board's Order. 



15. It is inevitable that at the outset of the operations the expendi- 

 ture of Local Authorities should comparatively speaking be heavy, 

 inasmuch as the first effects of the Order will be to bring within its 

 purview the cows of all ages suffering from chronic disease of the 

 udder and bovine animals of all kinds which show signs of emaciation. 

 When, however, the Order has been in operation for a few years there 

 will only fall to be dealt with animals which from an outwardly healthy 

 condition develop these .forms of the disease. It must not, therefore, 

 be supposed that the expenditure during the initial years will represent 

 the ultimate average cost. 



16. The Board would be glad if you would lay this letter before your 

 Local Authority for their consideration in connection with the Bill now 

 before Parliament. In view, however, of the fact that the Order does 

 not come into operation until the commencement of next year, the 

 Board do not think it necessary for your Local Authority at present to 

 proceed with the publication of the Order in their District in accord- 

 ance with the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894. 



I am, &c, 



T. H. Elliott, 



Secretary. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have issued an Order, dated 

 26th May, 1909, and coming into operation on the 1st January, 19 10, 

 . entitled the Tuberculosis Order of 1909. The 



luberculosis Order 0rder extends to England and Wales and Scot- 

 01 l»uy. land, and the provisions, which are summarised 



below, are to be executed and enforced by the Local Authority. 



