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3. If the infection were due to infected water supply, as the
water is in general circulation, we should expect a general infection
of the water, and cases would not be grouped in practically one area
as has been the case, but more scattered over the district corresponding
with the area of the particular supply; but, as we have
seen above, the localization of the notified eases does not correspond
with any particular area of water supply.
Milk.—In investigating the relation that this article cf food may
have borne to the spread of this disease, I found on enquiries that 32
invaded households used condensed milk only, and the remainder of
the invaded households were supplied by 37 different dairymen,
getting their milk from various sources only one of which supplied
six households, the remainder supplying each a smaller number, and
in addition in a few households only sterilised milk was consumed.
These facts are sufficient to exclude milk as a medium for the
conveyance of this infection on this occasion.
Shell Fish.—The different forms of Shell Fish have been at
various times instrumental in the conveyance of enteric fever, and it
is necessary to consider whether they have been operative in causing
the outbreak under review.
During the A period there was only one household where it was
admitted that shell fish had been eaten within the limits cf the
incubation period of the disease. During the B period, in nine
households only had shell fish been consumed during the three
weeks prior to the onset of the disease, and the fish were purchased
at six different places, four of which were out of the Borough. The
fish consisted of the four varieties, viz.:—Oysters, mussels, cockles
and periwinkles. From these facts it will be immediately seen that,
shell fish has played a very insignificant part, if any, in the
causation of the late outbreak of enteric fever in the Borough.
Ice Creams.—Many epidemics have been traced to the consumption
of this article of food, but its influence in the recent outbreak
may be seen from the following facts. During the A period ice