164 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



No person with a contagious disease should be allowed to handle milk at 

 any time. (Health officer Wheeling, W. Va.) 



I know of no test that would prove beneficial except a thorough system of 

 milk inspection. (Dr. C. J. Marshall, University of Pennsylvania, Philadel- 

 phia, Pa.) 



QUESTION 10. Assuming that the tuberculin test is indicative only of tubercu- 

 lous conditions, are there any other tests which should be applied for the 

 detection of typhoid, diphtheria, scarlet fever, or other germs? 



ANSWERS. 



The tuberculin test only guards milk against infection with cattle tuber- 

 culosis. It would still be necessary to take other precautions against the 

 infection of typhoid fever, diphtheria, and other communicable diseases. Very 

 few infectious diseases besides tuberculosis are communicable to people from 

 cows. The danger of other diseases arises from contamination through the 

 water supply or by persons handling the milk. There should be an occasional 

 inspection of premises, attendants, methods of handling milk, etc., and an 

 examination of the water supply. The families of those handling the milk 

 should also be subjected to examination to guard against the spread of con- 

 tagious diseases, and there should also be a requirement of compulsory notifi- 

 cation of the health officer on the appearance of any contagious disease among 

 attendants or their families. The score-card system of dairy inspection should 

 be used. (Chief Bureau of Animal Industry.) 



Meaning of question not clear. Cows are not subject to typhoid fever and 

 diphtheria. (Surgeon General U. S. Army.) 



There are no tests that could be applied for the certain detection of typhoid, 

 diphtheria, and scarlet fever germs. (Surgeon General U. S. Navy.) 



The infection of typhoid fever, diphtheria, and scarlet fever does not come 

 from the cow itself, but from those who milk the cow and handle the milk. 

 Hence, provision against these infections should be made by inspection of the 

 personnel of the dairy. (Surgeon General Public Health and Marine-Hospital 

 Service. ) 



None worth while. Number of bacteria and presence of large numbers of 

 colon bacilli of some value as indicating general conditions. "(Dr. William H. 

 Park, New York, N. Y.) 



Dairy hygiene with respect to typhoid, diphtheria, and scarlet fever carriers 

 is the only efficient means of safeguarding the public against these infectious 

 diseases. (Dr. Henry L. Coit, Newark, N. J.) 



Yes ; low bacterial count and clean conditions at dairy and healthy employees 

 (Dr. R. G. Freeman, New York, N. Y.) 



Inspection of premises and operatives at frequent intervals, cultures from 

 throats of operatives, and numerical examination of milk, with microscopic 

 examination of sediment, will go far to protect against other diseases. (Dr. 

 M. P. Ravenel, Madison, Wis.) 



There are no practical tests. (Dr. C. E. A. Winslow, New York, N. Y.) 



Yes. (Health officer Ann Arbor. Mich.) 



The supervision of competent inspectors about the only safeguard. (Health 

 officer Baltimore, Md.) 



There is not, so far as my knowledge goes. (Health officer Birmingham, 

 Ala.) 



No. (Health officer Bismarck, N. Dak.) 



None which are practical. (Health officer Cleveland, Ohio.) 



Like No. 9, this question is vague ; there is little or no question in the effi- 

 ciency of the tubercular test. There is no like test for the detection of typhoid, 

 diphtheria, etc. Besides, it is unnecessary to test for these diseases as they 

 are not subject to them. (Health officer Columbus, Ohio.) 



Not specific. (Health officer Detroit, Mich.) 



No. (Health board State of Florida.) 



Culture tests, plating, etc. (Health officer Jacksonville, Fla.) 



Not to cow. This calls for a bacterial examination of milk which would 

 give evidence of germs. (Health officer Kansas City, Mo.) 



Not that I ever heard of. (Health officer Lynchburg, Va.) 



Nothing practical to my knowledge. (Health officer Montclair, N. J.) 



None to my knowledge with reference to cows. The milk should be safe- 

 guarded in other ways. (Health officer Portland, Oreg.) 



