INFECTION BY MILK 103 



that the milk may be infected with bacteria of suppura- 

 tion, among which streptococci are able to cause enteritis 

 in man. With wounds and ulcerations of the teats (pox, 

 gangrenous buckwheat eruption, etc.), the danger is 

 present and the milk of such cows should, at least, not be 

 used for nursery milk. If there are single small sores 

 that no longer suppurate, the milk may be sold, pro- 

 vided the teats are carefully washed before milking. 



m. Other infectious diseases. The secretory function 

 of the milk glands is affected to no small degree in many 

 severe infectious diseases. This is shown principally by 

 the diminished quantity of milk but often, at the same 

 time, by changes in its composition. In this way the 

 milk may acquire an unpleasant or salty taste ; its layer 

 of cream has often a dirty color and, when it is boiled, 

 little lumps separate due to the increased quantity of 

 albumin or globulin. It is probable that under these con- 

 ditions abnormal products of metabolism and, now and 

 then, pathogenic bacteria find their way into the milk; 

 therefore, milk should not be used in severe cases of 

 fever, as rinderpest, malignant catarrhal fever, croup, 

 malignant broncho-pneumonia, pysemic and septicsemic 

 processes, etc. 



n. Milk sickness. A curious disease called " milk 

 sickness " is found in the central part of the United 

 States ; it was formerly confused with anthrax, and has 

 occurred as an epidemic among animals and man but 

 seems to disappear with improved cultivation. Accord- 

 ing to the reports of Dr. Kimmell the disease occurs 

 among horses and ruminants, when they are pastured in 

 certain places. After a period of incubation, violent 

 trembling and great restlessness appear which increase 

 during the succeeding days. The animal may fall and 

 die suddenly but often it lies for several days in a para- 

 lyzed, half dead condition. Through the ingestion of 



