DISEASES OF THE COW 117 



produced local lesions at the site of inoculation, a not improbable 

 result with such material. The clinical signs of the disease are 

 not in any way sufficient to mark the condition off from similar 

 diseases not very infrequent amongst milch cows. The evidence 

 on which the existence of bovine scarlatina rests is the epidemio- 

 logical facts elicited by Sir W. Power, and coming from such an 

 acute observer they are entitled to the closest attention. These 

 three cows, and later the others, do seem to have been closely associ- 

 ated with the infectivity of the milk. 



Although in other outbreaks subsequent to the Hendon out- 

 break a bovine origin was suggested, the only one worked out 

 sufficiently in detail to warrant detailed description is the 

 following : 



OUTBREAK OF SCARLET FEVER IN LONDON AND SURREY, 1909 1 



An extensive outbreak of scarlet fever in June 1909, which 

 attacked upwards of 400 persons who consumed milk obtained 

 from a particular milk company. The cases attacked were in 

 different parts of London and the county of Surrey. The specific 

 contamination of the milk was very ably traced by Dr. Hamer and 

 Dr. Jones to the milk of one particular farm (called farm X. in the 

 report) in Wiltshire. The facts adduced show clearly that the milk 

 from this farm was the vehicle of infection, but there is room for a 

 difference of opinion as to the precise source and origin of the 

 infection. Hamer and Jones, from their investigations (carried out 

 with the help of Mr. Dunbar, Dr. Mervyn Gordon, and others), 

 came to the conclusion that the source of the outbreak was a 

 morbid condition of one or more particular cows. On the other 

 hand, a human source was possible. 



The essential facts bearing upon the precise source of infection 

 are the following : At farm X., which consisted of two farmsteads 

 (X^ and X. 2 ), and which was visited six days after the first cases 

 attributed to milk infection, a man (G. L.). his wife, and their three 

 children were all found to be suffering from scarlet fever, although 

 they were at first said to be suffering from German measles. One 

 child had been ill since June 11, and the man had been ill 

 and away from work since the 15th. He acted as carter and 

 auxiliary milker. He was allowed one pint of milk per day from 

 farm X. No human source of infection of this family could be 

 traced. 



Dunbar, the veterinary inspector, examined the cows on 

 farm X. on two occasions. He found that most of the milch cows 

 at farmstead X. 2 , and several at farmstead X.j, presented scabs and 

 excoriations on the teats and udders ; the conditions being similar 



1 Report to the London County Council, 1909. 



