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111
a milk derived from an inflamed udder in one of the Finsbury
cowsheds, the micrococcus of mastitis was found, and was practically
the only organism present. These facts in respect of Finsbury milk
are not exceptional. London milks have been frequently
examined, with the result that marked bacterial pollution has been
demonstrated. One illustration will suffice. In 1899, 50 samples
of milk were examined in St. Pancras. Sixteen (or 32 per cent.)
were normal healthy milks ; and 31 (or 68 per cent.) were unhealthy
milks. Of the latter, 12 samples contained pus in smaller or greater
amounts, and 5 (or 10 per cent.) contained the tubercle bacillus.
A qualitative bacteriological examination of 25 samples of milk
obtained in Finsbury has just been made by Mr. Foulerton,
Bacteriologist to the Middlesex Hospital, and his report is as
follows:—
Bacteriological Department,
The Middlesex Hospital,
London, W.
23rd November, 1903.
REPORT ON SAMPLES OF MILK.
The samples of milk referred to in this Report were received from
Dr. Newman on the following dates : Monday, 26th October, samples
1-4 ; Wednesday, 28th October, samples 5.12 ; Friday, 30th October
samples 13-20 ; Wednesday, 4th November, samples 21-23 Friday,
16th November, samples 24-25.
All twenty-five samples were received in clean glass bottles, with
new corks, and were examined immediately after they were received
in the Laboratory, Each bottle contained a little more than 100
cubic centimetres of milk, and the method of examination carried out
was the same in each case.
0 Report 011 Health of St. Pancras, 1899, pp. 61-66 (Dr. S\kes).
† One hundred centimetres of the sample were measured out into a large glass
tube, and were therein centrifugated by means of a Runne Centrifugal Machine
for 15 minutes. The lowest ten cubic centimetres in the tube, containing all
sediment, were then carefully pipetted off into a glass tube, and again
centrifugated for 15 minutes.
The upper portion of the milk in the smaller test tube was then decanted, six
coverglass specimens for microscopic examination were then prepared, and the
remainder of the contents of the tube were employed for the inoculation test.
The six coverglass specimens were then stained in warm carbol-fuchin for
14 minutes, decolourised in a 33 per cent, dilution of nitric acid in water, washed
in water, counterstained and mounted in the usual way.