74 BACTERIAL POISONS. 



water was obtained from a shallow well, and some of it was 

 taken for analysis. But several families had for years used 

 water from this well, and had remained healthy. 



" The milk used by the family was studied. Of course, 

 we could get none of that which had been used before the 

 members of the family were stricken down. As soon as he 

 made the diagnosis of tyrotoxicon poisoning, Dr. Mesic 

 ordered the discontinuance of the use of milk, not only with 

 the sick, but he forbade the daughter, who had returned, 

 and any of the visitors using it. Mr. Evans owned four 

 milch cows, and they were supplied with fair pasturage and 

 abundant water. The greater part of the milk was placed 

 in tin cans which were set in a wooden trough in the yard, 

 and surrounded by cold water. The covers to the cans 

 were arranged so that the air could have free access to the 

 milk, and were left in this position until the milk was 

 thoroughly cooled. Indeed, the cans were furnished by a 

 creamery company, which followed the directions which I 

 have previously given for the care of milk. On his first 

 visit to me, Dr. Mesic brought some of the milk from one 

 of these cans. This I examined, but failed to find tyro- 

 toxicon in it. 



" However, the family did not drink any of the milk from 

 the cans. That which they did use was kept in the buttery 

 which I have described. Here it stood upon a shelf, and 

 some members of the family, at least, were in the habit of 

 drinking from it between meals. This was especially true, 

 it is said, of the son. He would frequently come from his 

 work in the fields, go into the buttery and drink a glass or 

 more of the milk. Mr. Evans states that he frequently 

 observed that the taste of the milk was not pleasant. On 

 my first visit to the premises I advised that some of the 

 milk should be taken from the cans, allowed to stand in the 

 buttery over night, and be sent to me the next day. This 

 was done, and in this milk we found tyrotoxicou, not only 

 by the employment of chemical tests, but by poisoning a 

 kitten with it. 



"On the death of the mother and son, Dr. Mesic asked for 

 a post-mortem, but the friends objected, and the undertaker 



