210 Annual Report for 1907 of the Consulting Chemist. 
containing bovine tubercle bacilli is clearly a cause of tuberculosis, and of fatal 
tuberculosis, in man.” 
* ♦ ♦ * * * 
“ These facts indicate that a very large proportion of tuberculosis contracted 
by ingestion is due to tubercle bacilli of bovine source. 
“ A very considerable amount of disease and loss of life, especially among 
the young, must be attributed to the consumption of cows’ milk containing 
tubercle bacilli. The presence of tubercle bacilli in cows’ milk can be detected, 
though with some difficulty, if the proper means be adopted, and such milk 
ought never to be used as food. There is far less difficulty in recognising 
clinically that a cow is distinctly suffering from tuberculosis, in which case she 
may be yielding tuberculous milk. The milk coming from such a cow ought 
not to form part of human food, and indeed ought not to be used as food at all. 
“ Our results clearly point to the necessity of measures more stringent than 
those at present enforced being taken to prevent the sale or the consumption of 
such milk.” 
J. McFadyeak. 
Royal Veterinary College, 
London. N.W. 
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1907 OF THE 
CONSULTING CHEMIST. 
The year 1907 has shown a somewhat marked diminution in 
the number of samples submitted by members of the Society 
for analysis in the Society’s Laboratory. During the twelve 
months ending November 30, 1907, the total number sent has 
been 402, as against 559 in 1906, and 571 in -1905. To what 
extent this diminution is to be attributed to the operation of 
the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act it is hard to say, but 
there can be little doubt that the introduction of the new Act 
of 1906 has brought about a feeling of confidence so far as 
purchasers are concerned. And though the Act itself is no 
more made use of than it was, and while, indeed, a check has 
been placed by it on the activity of County Councils, there is 
no question that the purchaser in general thinks there is less 
need now than formerly of having the materials he buys sub- 
mitted to analysis. This has been brought about mainly 
through the obligation imposed, under the new Act, on the 
vendor, to guarantee not only approximately, but within stated 
limits, the quality of what he supplies. So far, however, as 
actual prosecution in cases of deficiency or adulteration goes, 
the Act has, like its predecessor, been practically a “ dead 
letter.” As I have pointed out before, the obligation to take 
an official sample within ten days of delivery of purchase or 
invoice, has proved, as I expected it would, a bar to subsequent 
proceedings even when the circumstances justified such. Also 
the added necessity of olfiaining the sanction of the Board of 
