No. XXXVI.A.] APPENDIX. 383 



and tlie milk is slightly increased in quantity by its use. The milk lias a 

 slightly rancid odour when about twenty-four hours old, and has this 

 quality a day or two after the cows are fed with the grass. The butter 

 becomes bad about a day or two after it is made, and no care in its pre- 

 paration can avert its rancidity. 



I have long known that the use of putrid manures affects the quality 

 of vegetables, and have called special attention to the fact in the book of 

 ' My Garden.' I did not, however, know till lately that the putrid matter 

 could be taken by animals and communicated in the dangerous putrefactive 

 state by the milk to other animals. If you would like to verify the experi- 

 ment, a cow shall be placed at your disposal for the purpose, but I have 

 reason to suspect that the fact, which has a bearing upon many social 

 problems, is thoroughly well known to our dairy proprietors. 



August 15. 



It is currently suggested that in cases where typhoid fever has occurred 

 near sewage farms the milk has been directly adulterated with sewage. 



I can hardly myself entertain so horrible an idea, but if the suspicion 

 has been entertained, why was not a coroner's inquest held upon those who 

 died, and why was no attempt made to bring the supposed adulterators to 

 justice ? 



As my letter has opened the whole subject of sewage irrigation, and 

 made the public alive to the importance of the subject, I will take the 

 liberty of answering all correspondents in a few days, but much informa- 

 tion has been supplied to me which, for obvious reasons, I dare not write. 



August 19. 



In the first week in July I visited a friend in Harley Street, the centre 

 of the present epidemic of typhoid fever, when a fine cat was shown to 

 me which would not touch London milk, though in the country it drank 

 milk as freely as other cats do. 



It was suggested that I should send to puss a can of milk from my 

 garden as I received it for my own use. This was done, and the following 

 answer was received on July 8 : " The milk was immediately submitted to 

 Fluff's judgment, and he, after a most careful inspection, appeared to be of 

 the opinion that it was excellent, and he, after once having fairly tasted it, 

 drank every drop I gave him. It certainly is a very curious circumstance, 

 and shows pretty plainly to me (as you suggested) that the London milk- 

 man supplies something besides water with his milk." 



Assuming the milk to have been the sole cause of the present 

 epidemic, how much pain and how many deaths might have been averted 

 if the sagacity of the cat had been rightly understood ! I have been asked 

 how putrefactive milk can be determined. I reply, " From the creatures 

 thy instructions take." Follow the example of the cat, and get evidence of 

 the act of putrefaction by the nose. Keep the milk for twenty-four hours 

 in a moderately warm place, when the bad odour will demonstrate the evil. 



Not only milk, but water contaminated by putrefactive compounds, 

 will after twenty-four hours discover its death-producing qualities. Good 

 water will travel all over the world without change, but if it contains the 

 elements of putrescence it will not keep twenty-four hours without the 

 odour being apparent. 



