330 MILK AND DISEASE 



Hitherto no single specific organism has been found 

 to which the illness can be attributed with certainty ; 

 possibly the bad effects are brought about by the com- 

 bined action of two or more kinds. 



There is little doubt, however, that the responsible 

 organisms are introduced in dust and dirt. 



Booker came to the conclusion that the species most 

 actively concerned with the disease are Proteus vulgaris, 

 and a Streptococcus, probably 6". pyogenes, although Klein 

 attributes the complaint to Bacillus enteritidis sporogenes, 

 a widely-distributed anaerobic organism found in soil, 

 sewage-polluted water, and faecal matter, and frequently 

 present in milk. 



Careful cooling and scrupulous cleanliness in the 

 production and distribution of milk in the summer, along 

 with care in the use of clean vessels for storage of milk 

 at home, would very greatly reduce infant mortality 

 from this cause. 



Bacillus enteritidis sporogenes, Klein. This is a common 

 anaerobic spore-producing organism isolated originally from 

 human excreta and milk, the consumption of which had led to 

 an epidemic of diarrhoea. It is frequently found in soil and in 

 animal faeces. 



The bacilli are 2.5 to 3.5 (* long, .8 to 1.25 /*, broad, some- 

 times motile, and readily stain by Gram's method. The spores 

 are oval, usually placed in the middle of the bacterial cell. It 

 very closely resembles Hacillus Welchii and the non-motile 

 butyric acid bacillus (p. 288). 



Gelatine. Surface colonies, semi-transparent, no liquefaction. 

 In stab-cultures the colonies are small and spherical, and many 

 gas bubbles are produced. 



Agar. Surface colonies, round, grey, flat, with thin lobed or 

 indented margins. 



