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1899]
224
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF MILK.
The Public Health Committee of Islington, like several other
bodies having charge of the health interests of large communities,
carefully considered its duties in relation to the prevention of the
possible infection of human beings with milk derived from tubercular
cows, with the result that it decided that two hundred samples
of milk should be examined. This was the first attempt by any
London authority to deal with the matter, although subsequently
Hackney and St. Pancras caused investigations to be made, but on
a smaller scale.
The examination proved beyond doubt that much milk is sold
in Islington which contains the Bacillus Tuberculosis, which is the
germ which causes phthisis, or, as it is more popularly known,
" consumption."
The samples were obtained from two sources, from cow keepers
in Islington and from farmers.
The general result of the investigation was as follows:—
Number of samples examined 200
Sample curdled when examined 1
Number of samples inoculated 199
„ in which guinea pigs did not live sufficiently
long for the disease to develop 81
Result obtained in 118
Of these 118, 17 died with tubercular lesions, the bacilli being
proved to be present. There were also 17 others in which there were
suspicious signs, such as enlarged glands, enlarged nodular spleens,
etc., but in which no tubercle bacilli were found. Thus 14.4 per
cent, of the milks were infected with tubercle, while a similar
proportion was most gravely suspected. In other words 28.8 per
cent, were of such a character that their use was open to serious
objection.