DISEASE GERMS IX MILK 95 



intestines find their way to the lungs and produce infection 

 there. 1 Hence, the fact that milk is swallowed and not taken 

 into the lungs is no argument that it may not be a source of 

 pulmonary consumption in mankind. Indeed, in most recent 

 times it has been claimed that most cases of pulmonary tuber- 

 culosis come from infection through the intestines rather than 

 through the lungs. 2 



3. From these facts it has been finally agreed that the milk 

 of tuberculous cattle is undoubtedly a source of danger to those 

 drinking such milk. When the question of the extent of the 

 danger is raised, however, there is still a wide difference of 

 opinion. In the light of the facts in our possession to-day we 

 cannot doubt that the danger exists, but whether it is a slight 

 or serious danger we do not positively know. 3 On the one hand, 

 we find it claimed that a large part of the human tuberculosis, 

 including pulmonary as well as intestinal, is attributable to the 

 bacteria of the milk supply. Behring thinks that the larger 

 part of pulmonary consumption is contracted in childhood from 

 drinking milk, but that it may remain dormant for many years 

 showing itself later in life. 4 If this is the case, milk is the great 

 source from which this scourge is contracted. On the other 

 hand, it is held by Koch and others that this source of danger 

 is a comparatively slight one. The great source of tuberculosis 

 is, they hold, in breathing the germs directly into the lungs. 

 Hence, it is the sputum of human patients rather than the 

 milk of tuberculous cows that is the source of greatest danger. 



1 Calmette and Guerin. Ann. d. 1'Inst. Past., XX., p. 354, 1906. 

 Ipsen. Berl. Klin. Wochensch., p. 791, 1906. 



2 Arloing. Cent. f. Bact., I., xxxi., p. 255, 1902. 



Zwick. Zeit. f. Fleisch. u. Milch. Hyg., xvii., p. 69, 1906. 

 Tonzig. Arch. f. Hyg., xli., p. 46, 1901. 

 Schroeder and Cotton. Bui. 95, Bu. An. In., 1906. 

 'Speck. Zeit. f. Hyg., xlviii., p. 27, 1905. 

 4 Sobotta. Zeit. f. Fleisch u. Milch Hyg., xvi., p. 88, 1904. 

 P.ehring. Berl. Klin. Wochensch., pp. 233, 337, 689, 1903, 

 I'ehring. Tuberkuloseentstehung, Tuberkulosebekampfung und Sauglings- 

 nahrung, Berlin, 1904. 



