CONTAMINATION OF MILK 179 
only one cow is proved to be suffering from tubercle. But it is obvious that the 
milker with his hands contaminated with the bacilli from the diseased cow may have 
infected the outside of the teats of any of the other cows, and so have inoculated the 
second sample. It is probable that this may be one of the ways in which primary 
tuberculosis of the udder is produced. Again, the milker might have been tuberculer 
himself, and might have infected the cow by this most objectionable habit, which, I 
trust, is exceptionable, This points to one other conclusion, and that is, it a 
tubercular cow is found in a shippon, everything, udders, pails, walls, floors, should 
be thoroughly disinfected as in the case of anthrax. We run more danger from 
tubercle than anthrax and proper precautions should be taken. One tubercular cow 
may infect a whole shippon, and therefore the milk supply from it. 
Tables shewing the comparative frequency of contamination in Milk, 
Water, and Shell Fish 
MILKS 
Source 
Number of samples 
examined 
Bacillus col i 
communis 
Gas forming 
anaerobe 
Number of 
tubercular milks 
Town 
372 
4 1 
27 
7 
Railway 
414 
105 
54 
1 1 
'B' 
105 
32 
3 
5 
'S' 
+ 
2 
' w 
125 
2 2 
28 
+ 
< w 
6 
3 
1 
Totals 
1 ,026 
205 
113 
27 
WATER 
Number of samples 
examined 
Number of bacteria 
per cc. 
Bacillus coli communis 
Gas forming anaerobe 
733 
28 
7 
O 
SHELL FISH 
Number of samples examined 
Bacillus coli communis 
Gas forming anaerobe 
217 
42 
50 
