554 MANUAL OF MILK PRODUCTS 



water. The typhoid bacilli multiply in milk so that a small 

 original infection may result in large numbers of organisms by 

 the time the milk is consumed. 



In the case of diphtheria and scarlet fever, the infection of the 

 milk takes place after it has left the cow the same as in the case 

 of the typhoid organisms. The manner of infection is similar 

 to that of the typhoid. While epidemics of this disease which 

 have been carried by milk are less frequent than in the case 

 of typhoid fever, a number of cases are on record. 



An epidemic disease which has more recently been traced to 

 milk is a severe form of septic sore-throat. A number of epi- 

 demics of this disease have occurred during recent years which 

 apparently have been definitely traced to the milk supply. 

 Evidence up to the present time indicates that the original 

 source of these organisms is the human throat, but they may 

 become localized in the cow's udder, from which they may be 

 transmitted in considerable numbers to the milk. 



The group of intestinal disorders which may be carried by 

 milk includes such troubles as are commonly known as diarrhea, 

 summer complaint, cholera infantum, and the like. The organ- 

 isms causing these troubles have not all been recognized by 

 physicians, but it has been clearly shown that the germ-content 

 of the milk is intimately associated with their prevalence. 



While the number of epidemics of these diseases has not 

 been large in proportion to the number of persons who con- 

 sume milk, they are nevertheless of great importance, and 

 every possible means should be taken to prevent the spreading 

 of disease-organisms through the milk supply. There are two 

 possible methods for accomplishing this purpose. One is to 

 have the milk produced and handled under such sanitary con- 

 ditions that danger from infection will be eliminated ; the other 

 means of protection is to treat the milk in such a way that 

 any possible infection will be removed before the milk reaches 

 the consumer. The first method of protection is sought in the 



