View report page

24
already referred to. But each of these on investigation has
been declared non-infective. We may consequently affirm
that contamination does not take place before milk collected
from all quarters reaches the Depot.
Contamination must, therefore, take place either at the
Depot or on the round. Difficulties are attached to the
acceptance of any theory of contamination during the
process of distribution, and after milk leaves the Depot.
At this period of the enquiry, on nine truck rounds covering
separate areas, and two cart rounds lying widely apart,
were cases of Typhoid to be found. When carriers with
their trucks and carts leave the Depot, their roads lie in
diverging directions. To suppose that the contents of
churns are contaminated with Typhoid bacilli, on the
separate beats, is to pre-suppose the existence in the
epidemic area of eleven separate sources of polluted and
typhoid bearing waters. Of course, such a supposition is
absurd.
Now it has already been shown that milk reaching the
Depot is not infective, and that any theory of contamination
during distribution is surrounded by insuperable difficulties;
the conclusion is manifest, that the milk must be rendered
infective at the Depot itself.
The Depot comprises buildings and a partially covered
yard. The basement of the buildings is a storehouse for
milk, the upper part offices and manager's quarters. The
offices and manager's quarters are practically distinct from
the place in which operations in connection with the storage
and handling of milk takes place, and consequently, for the
purpose of this enquiry the Depot consists only of storehouse
and yard. The storehouse is well ventilated, its
flooring is of stone pavement, and its walls of lime-washed
bricks. Nothing about it is insanitary. Moreover, much