SEPTIC SORE THROAT 159 



it is known ili;il an animal may continue to excrete the 

 bacilli for years. It is not known that the organism is of 

 any sanitary importance, as far as man is concerned, but 

 undoubtedly such animals are the cause of the spread of 

 the disease to other individuals. The disease is often 

 spread by purchase of affected stock. 



In a general way it may be said that the milk of an animal 

 that is suffering from any disease whatever should not be 

 us. ,1 for human food. It may not be true that the milk 

 would be distinctly harmful, but it is always well to err on 

 the safe side. Such troubles as abscesses on any part of 

 the body, inflammation of the intestines, or any abnormal 

 condition after calving should cause the rejection of the 

 milk. 



Typhoid fever. Of those diseases that do not affect cat- 

 tle. but are spread by means of milk, typhoid fever is the 

 most important. The organisms producing the disease en- 

 ter the body with the food or drink. They establish them- 

 selves in the intestines, and from there penetrate to other 

 parts of the body. They are eliminated in the feces and 

 the urine. From these infectious materials they are 

 brought in contact with food and drink by a number of 

 agents. 



Not only milk, but many other foods and water are con- 

 cerned in the spread of typhoid fever. The methods by 

 which food products may become contaminated are so simi- 

 lar that all may be discussed together. Milk has one 

 peculiarity that is not common to most other foods, in that 

 the typhoid bacilli find in it an excellent culture medium; 

 and since growth can take place at temperatures far below 

 that of the human body, indeed at temperatures at which 

 milk is often stored, the slight contamination that might be 

 of small importance in other foods may be the starting point 

 of a great epidemic when milk is concerned. The typhoid 



