Streptococeic Mastitis. 



the cross-position of the segments, the capsule-like covering ancf 

 other characters, a way of distinguishing streptococci originating 

 in the udder of an animal from such as have subsequently gotten 

 into the milk. If these distinguishing signs are present then smears 

 from the sediment of market milk permit the deduction that secre- 

 tion from an affected udder has been included in the milk. If, on 

 the other hand, these signs are not present in the streptococci of the 

 milk, it cannot be asserted that the milk is not contaminated with 

 the secretion of affected udders. 



Although it is not 



known what factors Fi s- 21. 



(streptococci, toxins, in- 

 flammatory products) 

 convey the unwholesome- 

 ness to the milk, and al- 

 though in spite of the fre- 

 quent occurrence of mas- 

 titis injurious effects re- 

 sult with relative rarity, 

 nevertheless the secretion 

 from udders affected with 

 streptococcic mastitis, 

 and mixed milk which is 

 contaminated with such 

 secretion should be con- 

 sidered capable of im- 

 pairing the human health, 

 since 



1. There are known 

 cases in which severe dis- 

 turbances of health re- 

 sulted from the ingestion 

 of such milk. 



2. The investiga- 

 tions of streptococci 

 scientifically justify the 



suspicion of harm arising from their ingestion. 



What are the conditions of the mastitis streptococci among 

 themselves? Formerly a Streptococcus brevis and a Streptococcus 

 longus were distinguished, but it was shown that these distinguish- 

 ing features were not absolute (Staeheli). The differences of the in- 

 dividual strains and the forms of their growth in culture are as in- 

 constant as their pathogenicity, acid formation, and other biological 

 characteristics, so that, as expressed by Kitt, it would be necessary 

 to distinguish as many varieties as there are mastitis cases if it 

 was desired to accept the differences of the individual mastitis 

 strains as indicative of different varieties. All the smaller and 

 greater differences should be considered as indications of adapta- 



Streptococcic pus from milk of a cow with streptococcic 

 mastitis. Streptococcus longus. 1 X 1000. 



