BACTERIA IN FOODS 203 



micro-organism of scarlet fever. The Agricultural Depart- 

 ment supported the view of Professor Crookshank that the 

 cow disease at Hendon was cowpox, and Professor Axe 

 further pointed out that there was evidence of the Hendon 

 milk having been contaminated with human scarlet fever. 

 Whichever conclusion was adopted, all were agreed upon 

 one point, viz., that the disease had been conveyed from 

 Hendon to persons in Marylebone by means of the milk. 



Mr. Ernest Hart in 1897 published a very large number 

 of records of scarlatinal milk infection from all parts of the 

 country, and though the cause of the disease is obscure, 

 there is now no doubt that it may be and is conveyed by 

 means of milk. 



Other Diseases Conveyed by Milk. In addition to the 

 above, there are other diseases spread by means of polluted 

 milk. From time to time exceptional cases have occurred 

 in which a disease like anthrax has been spread by this 

 means. But it is not to such rare cases that we refer. 

 There are two very common diseases in which milk has been 

 proved to play a not inconsiderable part, viz., thrush and 

 diarrhoea. 



The mould which gives rise to the curd-like patches in 

 the throats of children, and which is known as Oidium 

 albicans, frequently occurs in milk. Soft white specks are 

 seen on the tongue and mucous membrane of the cheeks 

 and lips, looking not unlike particles of milk curd. If a 

 scraping be placed upon a glass slide with a drop of glycerine 

 and examined by means of the microscope, the spores and 

 mycelial threads of this mould will be seen. The spores are 

 oval, and possess a definite capsule. The threads are 

 branched and jointed at somewhat long intervals. Milk 

 affords an excellent medium for the growth of this parasite. 

 Thus undoubtedly we must hold milk partly responsible for 

 spreading this complaint. Penicillium, Aspergillus, and 

 Mucor are also frequent moulds in milk. 



