View report page

61
3. The presence in a condensed milk of staphylococcus pyogenes aureus in
any considerable number appears to me objectionable, but, again, for the reason
just stated, it is difficult to suggest any numerical standard. Speaking purely
as a pathologist, and leaving it to those concerned to decide whether the
suggestion is practicable, I should be disposed to condemn a condensed milk
the sediment of which yields a culture of staphylococcus in which staphylococcus
pyogenes aureus formed a noticeable element. With adequate Pasteurisation the
absence of this coccus could, I believe, be secured.
This machine skimmed milk is placed in tins of varying sizes, which are sold
principally to the poorer classes, and there is no doubt that much of it is consumed by
children and infants, although the labels on the tins are marked distinctly that the milk
should not be used by infants. There is considerable evidence that the mortality of
infants and children fed on condensed milk is much greater than those fed on ordinary
milk.
I have addressed letters to the Commissioners for Denmark and Holland, which
are the countries chiefly concerned in importing this class of milk, making the following
suggestions:—
(a) That careful supervision should be made of cows on the dairy farms to
ensure that no milk from cows with any inflammatory condition of the udder
is sent to the factory for condensation.
(b) That the milk should be exposed to a sufficiently high temperature,
after condensation, to ensure that all micro-organisms are killed.
Some good condensed milks contain very few organisms, so it is evident that
many of those which have been examined have not been submitted to a sufficiently
high temperature.
I have received letters from them as follows :—
Harald Faber, F.C.S., 7 and 8, Idol Lane,
Commissioner to the Danish Government. London, E.C.,
oth December, 1912.
Dr. Herbert Williams,
Medical Officer of Health,
Port of London, Greenwich.
Dear Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 3rd instant, for which I am much obliged, I
have noticed the points in Dr. Andrewes' report which you mention, and I am
to-day writing to the factory to point out what you say and to recommend the
supervision of cows and the heating of the milk after condensation.
An examination at the laboratory in Copenhagen has fully confirmed
Dr. Andrewes' opinion of the samples. This refers to the samples taken before
my visit to you.
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) HARALD FABER.