TYPHOID FEVER MILK-BORNE OUTBREAKS 



335 



Brockton, Mass., U.S.A., 1901. 



Total number of cases 21 — 11 of whom 



were children. 

 Number of cases amongst 



drinkers of suspected milk . 21 

 Percentage on total cases . . 100 



Circumstances implicating the milk 

 supply. — Though both milk dealer and 

 his son distributed the milk, all the 

 cases but two were on the son's route. 

 The son obtained his portion of the 

 supplyfrom four sources, in one of which 

 it was found that typhoid fever was 

 present. The son himself drank this 

 milk, because he thought it better 

 quality than that of the other three 

 sources. He also contracted the typhoid 

 fever. It was believed that originally 

 the milk became infected by washing 

 the cans with polluted well water. 



Probable exciting cause. — Human. 



Reference. — Thirty-second A nn. Rep. 

 State Bd. 0/ Massachusetts, 1901. 



Norwood, Mass., U.S.A., 1901. 

 Total number of cases — 6 and 21. 



Circumstances implicating the milk 

 supply. — The first outbreak involved 

 only 6 cases, the second 21. All cases 

 were traceable to one dealer, who 

 obtained his milk from 17 farms, mix- 

 ing it and distributing it himself. 

 Inquiry at his depot and amongst his 

 employees, and at the 17 farms, yielded 

 no result. He was told, however, not 

 to mix the 17 supplies. This was 

 done on 4th January. On 14th January 

 2 fresh cases occurred in persons who 

 had taken unmixed milk from the same 

 farm. Here it was found that the well 

 water used for washing the cans was 

 polluted. The use of the well was 

 stopped, and the cans sterilised, and 

 no further cases occurred. Later in 

 the year, however, typhoid again broke 

 out, and was traced to this identical 

 farm, where the farmer had neglected 

 the order, and used the well water for 

 dairy purposes. 



Probable exciting cause. — Milk in- 

 fected through well water. 



Reference. — Thirty-second Ann. Rep. 

 of State Bd. of Massachusetts, 1901. 



Milk-bome outbreaks of typhoid 

 fever also occurred at the following 

 places in the years stated : — 



Penrith, 1857; Islington, 1870; 

 Leeds, 1870; Parkhead (Glasgow), 



1873 ; Ascot, 1873-77 ; Moseley, 1873 ; 

 Brighouse, 1873; Brierley (Lancashire), 



1874 ; Taunton, 1874 ; Queensberry, 

 1874 ; Dundee, 1874 ; Crossbill, 1875 ; 

 Jarrow, 1875 5 Glasgow, 1875 5 Chur- 

 well and Morley, 1876 ; Greenock, 

 1877 ; Edinburgh, 1877 ; Tunbridge 

 Wells, 1877; Croydon, 1878; Perth, 

 1878; Huncoat, 1878; Bristol, 1879; 

 Marylebone, 1880; Southport, 1881 ; 

 Hawick, 1881 ; Christ Church (New 

 Zealand), 1881 ; Grangemouth, 1882; 

 Leicester, 1882 ; Glasgow (2), 1882 ; 

 Clapham, 1882 ; Shelf, 1882 ; Exeter, 

 1883 ; Cologne, 1883 ; St Pancras, 

 1883 ; Cardiff, 1883 ; Upsala, 1883 ; 

 Bannockbum, 1883 ; St Albans, 1884 ; 

 Aberdeen, 1884 ; Lower Sherringham, 

 1885; Lancing College, 1886; Swan- 

 age, 1886; Carlisle, 1886-7; Leich- 

 hardt. New South Wales, 1886 ; 

 Bandon, 1887 and 1893 ; Spilsby, 1888 ; 

 Providence, U.S.A., 1888 ; Spenny- 

 moor, Durham, 1888 ; Dundee, 1889 ; 

 Melbourne, 1889 ; Leeds, 1889 ; Bel- 

 grade, 1889; Svarteborg, 1889; Water- 

 bury, U.S.A., 1890; Nottingham, 1890 ; 

 Randwick, N.S.W., 1 890 ; WTiitchurch, 

 1891 ; Sutton Coldfield, 1891 ; Edin- 

 burgh, 1891 ; Clermont-Ferrand, 1891 ; 

 Torquay, 1892 and 1894 ; Greenwich, 

 1892; Louisville, U.S.A., 1893; Paisley, 

 1893; Lambeth, 1894; Castle Island 

 (Ireland), 1894; Mont-Clair, U.S.A. 

 (cream), 1894 ; Marlborough, Mass., 

 U.S.A., 1894; Bay Head, U.S.A., 

 1894 ; Fintry, 1895 ; Helmsley, 1895 ; 

 Stamford, 1895 ; Plumstead, 1895 ; 

 St Helens, 1895; Folkestone, 1896; 



