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6o

The experiment is noteworthy in its results, but
whether the small number of cases connected with dairy
X customers is the direct result of pasteurisation or
simply a coincidence is difficult to say definitely. On
theoretical grounds, assuming that milk is the chief channel
of infection in spreading infectious diseases generally
throughout a district, the results could be satisfactorily
explained on the pasteurisation theory, scarlet fever and
typhoid fever in the same way as diphtheria. It is probable,
however, that the view of coincidence is true and that
the scarlet fever and typhoid fever cases arose from other
sources than the milk supply, as did also the diphtheria
cases, tabulated during January, 1914. The facts are
interesting as a record.
The Preventive Measures carried out may be tabulated
as follows :—
1. Notification of patients;
2. Isolation of patients;
3. Bacteriological examinations of doubtful cases;
4. Medical inspection of "contacts" and "suspects";
5. Pasteurisation of milk supply;
6. Stoppage from work of "carrier" distributors and
those suspected of being infected;
7. Stoppage of milk supply from the proved infected
farm.