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The results of this examination reveal no tuberculosis in this
series of samples, but considerable bacterial pollution of various
kinds. It should be noted that none of the milks examined had
been sold, and therefore whatever pollution they contained was
derived from contamination at the farm, in transit, or at the milkshop,
and not at the home of the consumer.
A word may be added as to tuberculosis. We cannot tell what
percentage of the milk coming into Finsbury actually contains
the germs of this disease, but there is little doubt that some
of it does. In Liverpool about 2 per cent. of the town-produced
milk has been proved to be tuberculous, and 9 per cent. of the
country milk. In Hackney on one occasion 22 per cent. of the
milks examined bacteriologically were found to be tuberculous; in
Woolwich in 1902, Dr. Davis reported 10 per cent. of the milk
examined bacteriologically to be tuberculous; in Camberwell in
1902, 36 milks were examined for the tubercle bacillus, and in 4 (or
ll'l per cent.) the organism was found; in the City of London in
1902, 24 milks were similarly examined, and tubercle was not found
in any of them ; and in Islington about 14 per cent. of the milks
examined bacteriologically contained the tubercle bacillus. In 1901
in Croydon 6 per cent., and in London as a whole 7 per cent. of the