MILK AND OTHER DAIRY PRODUCTS, 
Milk was responsible for about 10 per cent of the cases of typhoid 
fever occurring in the District of Columbia between June 1 and 
November 1, 1906. 
Three distinct milk outbreaks were studied, traceable to con- 
tamination from typhoid fever cases at the dairies or dairy farms. 
The record of milk infection for previous years is as follows: 
1905. Of the 1,097 cases 23 
1904. Of the 1,006 cases None. 
1903. Of the 1,055 cases 19 
1902. Of the 1,474 cases o 7 
It may therefore be safely assumed that infected milk is a fre- 
quently recurring cause of the disease in the District of Columbia. 
In our epidemiological studies we found that the 747 cases which 
contracted their infection in the District of Columbia gave the follow- 
ing history in regard to the use of milk within thirty days prior to 
illness : 
As a beverage 488 
On fruits and cereals, but not as a beverage 90 
In hot tea or coffee only 50 
As ice cream only 65 
None 40 
Not 'stated 14 
Total 747 
Of the 105 cases in which it was stated that no milk was used, 65 
gave a history of having eaten ice cream, while 40 gave a history of 
not having used milk or cream in any form within thirty days prior 
to the onset of the disease. 
In chart No. 3 is shown the number of cases which occurred 
among the customers of the various milk dealers in the District of 
Columbia. This diagram demonstrates graphically the three milk 
outbreaks among the customers of dealers Nos. 4, 13, and 85, as 
follows : 
Cases. 
Dealer No. 4. October 2 to 21 32 
Dealer No. 13. July 6 to August 20 35 
Dealer No. 85. July 30 to August 13 12 
Due to milk 79 
Due to ice cream 6 
Total..’ 85 
o From the records of the health office. District of Columbia. 
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