290 



PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN MILK 



itself is infective. Doubtless, also, a not inconsiderable portion 

 of milk infection is derived from infected garments and other 

 articles, which, as stated above, may retain their infectivity for 

 long periods. 



Abstracts of Typical Milk-borne Outbreaks of 

 Scarlet Fever 



The following abstracts of milk-borne outbreaks of scarlet fever 

 are inserted with a view of placing on record, in comparatively 

 brief compass, an historical and epidemiological account of some 

 of the more marked instances of the conveyance of the disease by 

 the consumption of milk. A perusal of them cannot fail to furnish 

 the reader with a more or less comprehensive view of the ways and 

 means of infection. They are placed in chronological order and 

 are stated in as brief a manner as possible. This note applies also 

 to the abstracts of typhoid and diphtheria epidemics appearing 

 later : — 



Handsworth, 1876 (^July). 



Total number of cases • . 37 



Deaths ..... 4 

 Number of cases amongst 



drinkers of suspected milk . 37 

 Percentage on total cases . .100 

 Number of families, supplied by- 

 milkman, invaded ... 20 



Circumstances implicating the milk 

 supply. — Three cases of scarlatina in 

 dairyman's family. Milk-cans kept in 

 house, and the dairy itself in direct 

 communication by a doorway with the 

 living-rooms in the house. Disease 

 followed course of this milk supply. 



Probable exciting cause. — Human 

 source. 



Reporter and reference. — Dr T. B. 

 Welch (Med. Off. of Health). BHt. 

 Med. Jour.., 1876, vol. ii., p. 225. 



Fallovrfield, Manchester, 1879 



(^Augusi). 



Total number of cases — 35 in 18 



families. 

 Number of cases amongst 



drinkers of suspected milk . 35 



Percentage on total cases . .100 

 Number of families supplied by 



milkman ... 60-70 

 Number of such families in- 

 vaded 18 



Percentage 27 



Circumstances implicating the milk 

 supply. — One of the milkers came 

 from an infected house, and is be- 

 lieved to have conveyed the infection. 

 Twenty-four of the cases were at- 

 tacked within the space of 36 hours. 

 The disease exactly followed the 

 course of this milk supply. There 

 was nothing else common to the 

 houses attacked. In some cases it 

 appears that the disease commenced 

 within 24 hours of drinking the milk. 

 The families invaded belong to the 

 better class. Diarrhoea and alimen- 

 tary irritation were prominent symp- 

 toms. 



Probable exciting cause. — Human 

 source. 



Reporter and reference. — Dr Airy 

 (Loc. Gov. Bd.). Brit. Med. Jour., : 

 1880, vol. i., p. 107 ; Rep. of Medical 

 Officer of Loc. Gov. Bd., 1879. 



