66 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



about 200,000 gallons each day from the surrounding 

 country, and much of it brought in by the railroads has 

 been on the cars for a time varying from six to twelve 

 hours, yet we seldom hear of any of this milk undergoing 

 the peculiar form of fermentation set up in the Long 

 Branch milk. We may account for this by assuming that 

 the proper care of the milk after it was taken from the 

 cow, and the low temperature at which it was kept, have 

 prevented the formation of any ferment ; this opinion 

 seems to be endorsed by all dairymen and managers of 

 large creameries with whom we have consulted. They all 

 agree in stating that milk maintained at a low temperature 

 can be kept sweet and in good condition for many days. 



u We have dwelt on this branch of our topic somewhat 

 extensively, because we are fully persuaded that the im- 

 proper care of the milk had much to do with the illness it 

 produced. 



" The results of our inquiry having revealed so much, 

 we next attempted to isolate some substance from the 

 poisonous milk, in order that the proof might be more 

 evident. A quantity of the milk that had caused sickness 

 in the second outbreak was allowed to coagulate, was then 

 thrown on a coarse filter, and the filtrate collected. This 

 latter was highly acid, and was made slightly alkaline by 

 the addition of potassium hydrate. This alkaline filtrate 

 was now agitated with an equal volume of pure, dry ether, 

 and allowed to stand for several hours, when the ethereal 

 layer was drawn off by means of a pipette. Fresh ether 

 was added to the residuum, then agitated, and, when sepa- 

 rated, was drawn oif and added to the first ethereal 

 extract. This was now allowed to evaporate spontane- 

 ously, and the residue, which seemed to contain a small 

 amount of fat, was treated with distilled water and filtered, 

 the filtrate treated with ether, the ethereal solution drawn 

 oif and allowed to evaporate, when we obtained a mass of 

 needle-shaped crystals. This crystalline substance gave a 

 blue color with potassium ferricyanide and ferric chloride, 

 and reduced iodic acid. The crystals, when placed on the 

 tongue, gave a burning sensation. A portion of the crys- 



