372 PUBLIC HEALTH BACTERIOLOGY 



yet doubtful how infection takes place, as the cereal theory 

 has been partly exploded, through cases arising which had no 

 connection with grain; and I think it is just possible infection 

 may be conveyed by the milk of such a cow as I have quoted, 

 where the elements of the disease were found in the fluid. 

 If that be so, this disease, as affecting the udder of the cow, 

 warrants more attention than is given to it at the present 

 moment in connection with our milk supplies." In this regard 

 the present writer was consulted in 1910 by a young man of 

 about twenty years, who had recently returned to Scotland 

 from Canada. He had been treated in several hospitals for 

 tuberculosis. The history being irregular, his spit was sent to 

 the City Bacteriological Laboratory (Glasgow) for examination 

 with this note : "If you do not find tubercle bacilli, look for 

 something else." Dr. Sutherland, who examined the speci- 

 men, found actinomyces, and the diagnosis was confirmed 

 later in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He died some months 

 later, but a post-mortem examination was not obtained. The 

 history bearing on the point at issue is this : About two years 

 previously he left his position as an office boy in Glasgow, and 

 went to near Calcary, Alberta, Canada, where he became a 

 farmer's boy. One of the cows he had to milk had a chronic 

 sore on its udder, and he was warned to milk this cow gently, 

 so as not to make the sore bleed. After about one year he 

 took ill at this farm with a sore throat, followed by a swollen 

 right submaxillary gland. The gland was incised and healed 

 well. Then another swelling appeared, and another, and so on. 

 This certainly looked like a milk infection, but verification 

 was not possible. 



5. FOR JOHNE'S BACILLI. 



The prevalence of Johne's disease in cattle in Great 

 Britain being now well established, the bacilli may find 

 their way into the milk from the diarrhoeal stools in the 

 earlier stages of the disease. The bacilli are shorter than 

 the tubercle bacilli, but are equally acid-fast and alcohol- 

 fast. Twort has cultivated them on egg media. 



6. FOR STREPTOCOCCI. 



Houston advises the use of the medium of Drigalski and 

 Conradi (lactose-nutrose-agar) in plates. The plates are 

 inoculated by smearing over the surface of them o-i c.c. of 

 each of the dilutions given above. Incubate twenty-four to 



