BACTERIA IN MILK OF NEW YORK 121 



were both tested in mid-winter and in September, The results 

 were as follows : — 



These two tables of figures indicate, in the first place, that much 

 of the milk sold in New York is not of exceptionally good quality 

 when judged by the number of bacteria contained. Some of the 

 returns are very high, and reveal improper handling of the milk. 

 Secondly, the contrast between milk sold in well-to-do districts and 

 that sold in poorer tenement districts is very striking. It may, we 

 think, be safely assumed that the difference is due not to a differ- 

 ence of source so much as to difference of storage immediately 

 preceding the sale. Uncleanly shops, dirty utensils, and unclean 

 handling in the city is the cause of the high numbers of bacteria 

 in such milks, rather than unclean milking at the farm from which 

 the supply was obtained. Obviously, this remark does not apply 

 to the results obtained by examination of the milk on arrival 



We have carried out a number of examinations of London 

 milks, and have frequently found several millions of organisms per 

 cubic centimetre to be present In a general way it may be said 

 that the features demonstrated by Park as characteristic of milk in 

 New York are true of milk in London. Such milk has been 

 brought from more or less remote parts of England, and has 

 suffered in consequence. In London milk-shops also it must be 

 said that careful protection of the milk from dust and similar con- 

 tamination is the exception and not the rule. It is unnecessary 



