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114
milks examined were found to contain the tubercle bacillus. These
figures are sufficient to show that not only does London milk contain
large numbers of bacteria (which is evidence of pollution), but a
certain percentage of it contains the germs of tuberculosis.
Finally, it may be pointed out that the chief explanation of the
large number of bacteria found in London milks is two-fold. In
the first place, as already pointed out in the present report, London
milk has generally travelled a considerable distance from the
country, and as much as 12-24 hours have elapsed since the milk
left the udder. Delepine and others have shown that the effect
of time and temperature upon the multiplication of bacteria in
milk is an intimate one. Given warm weather, and little or no
refrigeration of the milk, and the organisms present will increase
with almost incredible rapidity. Naturally, time will favour such
multiplication. Consequently, a milk which when it left the farm
contained some thousands of bacteria, will contain millions of
bacteria some hours after when it reaches the milkshop in London.
In the second place, in addition to the pollution milk undergoes
at the farm there are many opportunities for its contamination
in transit and at the milkshop. In winter very much the
same degree of pollution will be found as in summer but at a later
stage in the life history of the milk. What occurs in, say, six hours
in summer may occur in winter in twelve hours. These facts
emphasise the extreme importance of protection and refrigeration of
all milk sent to the Metropolis. The matter is fully discussed
elsewhere.*
Summary.
Here then are a large body of facts, strictly checked and
abundantly confirmed, as to the condition of Finsbury milk as now
being sold. The conclusions may be expressed briefly as follows :—
1. Twenty-five per cent., or one quarter, of the milks examined
have been found to be adulterated (ten years' average). The
latest figures obtainable (namely for 1902) show that Finsbury
milk is adulterated six per cent. more than the
average London milk, and twelve per cent. more than the
average milk sold in the large towns of England and W ales.
° The Bacteriology of Milk (Swithinbank and Newman) ; see also Report on
the Public Health of Finsbury, 1902, pp. 73-79.