MILK-BOENE INFECTIONS 473 



III effects after consumption of mastitis milk by human beings 

 have been reported in some instances. It is surprising, however, 

 that such instances are not far more numerous than they actually 

 seem to be, since the disease is so wide-spread and is recognized 

 only in relatively few instances. The symptoms reported after 

 consumption of mastitis milk are usually gastro-intestinal dis- 

 turbances, accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, and abnormal 

 temperature. A number of epidemics of sore throat traced to 

 infected milk-supplies have been reported in England. They 

 have been frequently connected with milk from herds in which 

 mastitis was found to exist. This subject has been discussed 

 previously. 



All efforts to differentiate mastitis streptococci from strepto- 

 cocci of human diseases of the throat have not given entirely satis- 

 factory results as yet. In essential properties they are not dis- 

 tinguishable from lactic streptococci, although some authors con- 

 sider hemolysis sufficiently constant to constitute a differential 

 feature. While it has not been conclusively proved, Strep- 

 tococcus lacticus may become pathogenic if it is able to obtain a 

 foothold in some udder lesion. In the present stage of our 

 knowledge it is not justifiable to consider mastitis streptococci 

 and lactic streptococci identical, and milk infected with mastitis 

 streptococci should not be permitted to be sold. It is not possible 

 to determine with absolute certainty whether mastitis milk is 

 present; at least not when the admixture is small or if it is derived 

 from chronic or initial cases. Well-developed mastitis can be lo- 

 cated with some certainty by the appearance of many leukocytes 

 associated with long chains of streptococci. 



Mastitis caused by staphylococci and by Bacillus coli are rela- 

 tively scarce, and the milk causing this mastitis should be excluded 

 from the market as far as possible. 



Anthrax. — Danger of infection with anthrax through milk is 

 not great. Usually the secretion of milk ceases with the begin- 

 ning of the disease, although the flow of milk may continue for 

 some time. Anthrax bacilli gain access to the milk during the 

 last stages of the disease only and have occasionally been demon- 

 strated in milk. There is small danger from vegetative forms of 

 anthrax bacilli, since they are destroyed by the digestive juices, 

 but the spores are more resistant. The disease is very common 

 in European countries, causing enormous loss of cattle, and it is 

 astonishing that infections of human beings do not occur fre- 

 quently. Only one case (Ernst) is reported as far as the writer is 

 aware. Of course, milk from animals suffering from anthrax 

 should be excluded from the general supply. 



Rabies is a disease rare among cattle. Milk may contain 



