332 MILK AND DISEASE 



The exact nature of these illnesses, their cause, and 

 the relationship to the milk-supply are still obscure. 



7. Scarlet Fever. From its infectious character and 

 the peculiar course of its development it is inferred that 

 scarlet fever is due to a minute, but still undiscovered, 

 organism. 'The disease is disseminated very readily 

 from one person to another, and by means of linen, bed- 

 clothes, books, letters, and other objects which have been 

 in contact with patients suffering from it Without 

 doubt milk can carry the contagion, and a great many 

 epidemics of the disease have been spread by infected 

 milk. In most of these cases it has been found that the 

 milk received its disease-producing power from human 

 sources, either the convalescent milkers or some one 

 employed about the farm or dairy suffering from the 

 ailment supplying the virus. 



Some authorities, however, entertain the view that 

 cows may suffer from some form of the disease, and 

 convey the contagion to the milk. 



