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in very small numbers; as a matter of fact, when appreciable numbers of the
same microbe from a recent culture were injected the result was acute infection
and death.
Now, this splenic microbe being the real Bacillus enteritidis Gaertner, the
matter assumes a serious aspect, for this reason, viz., the Bacillus Gaertner is
capable when introduced in sufficient numbers by the digestive organs of causing
acute gastro-enteritis, and further, if this microbe be present initially in however
small numbers in milk, during the warm weather, or if kept for
some time in a warm place, it would soon multiply—milk being a good soil
for such multiplication—and the milk remaining unaltered to the eye, its
consumption might cause serious intestinal disorders.
How this microbe got into the milk, cannot be said ; but since the Bacillus
Gaertner, according to our present knowledge, seems to be generally derived
from the bovine animal, it is probably also in our cases directly or indirectly
referable to this animal, it certainly could not have got into the milk in
transit. Whether directly from the udder of the cow, or with impurities in
the cowsheds or originally from ailing animals, must for the present remain
unexplained.
E. KLEIN.
January 7th, 1905.
Addendum, January 19th.—I have experimental evidence that as small a dose
as /1200 or even 1/1000 part of a cubic centimetre of a broth culture 27
hours old causes acute septicemic infection and death, but when
smaller doses, e.g. 1/2000 or 1/4000 part, are injected the animals develop
the subacute or chronic disease of the spleen. I have likewise succeeded
in infecting animals (guinea pigs and mice) by feeding with milk
culture. The animals died on the fifth day with acute enteritis, the
lower ileum being in a state of great hasmorrhage.—E. K.
This report reveals a condition of things so serious that it requires the
most careful and detailed consideration :—
(i.) As to its bearing on the public health ;
(ii.) The causes which lead to the contamination of milk ; and
(iii.) The possibility of practical measures for its prevention.
In the first place it will be noticed that only 48'7 per cent., less than one
half, of the samples could be considered as clean and fit for food.
TUBERCULOSIS.
So far as Tuberculosis is concerned, three samples out of thirty-nine contained
the bacillus, two in large numbers, and the third in less.
These three were received from farms situated in Somerset, Suffolk and
Dertyshire by dairy companies who supply a large number of retailers.