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As the cases were notified at the commencement of
the outbreak, it was found, on enquiry at the notified
houses, that, in all the affected districts, with few exceptions,
the milk supply was the same in all, viz.: dairy X.
Investigations were made, consequently, in connection
therewith, including enquiries into the conditions of
(1) The farms and other wholesale sources (e.g.,
creameries and milk factories), from which the milk
supplies of dairy X were drawn, including general
sanitation, water supply, the cows and the
employees;*
(2) The dairy X, from which the milk, obtained
from the farms and other wholesale sources,*
was distributed into the various affected
districts, including general sanitation, water supply
and the employees, especially the distributors and
their particular "rounds." in connection with
which they were engaged (as shewn by the books)
in distributing milk from house to house at the time
of, and before the outbreak.
The work involved was considerable, and much
patience was required in following up every hint or clue
as to a possible or probable channel or channels of
infection, to arrive at the ultimate truth. This was
due to the fact that the milk trade in any large town,
and especially so in London, is complex, having many
ramifications, and an intimate knowledge of such
trade became, therefore, a first necessity—not only the
milk trade as a whole, but also the particular milk trade
of dairy X. In these and similar investigations, no fact
is too trivial to be neglected, but on the other hand,
great care must be taken to prevent official action being
drawn to side issues or on "false scents."
Bacteriological examinations were also carried out in
great numbers.
1. The Farms and other Wholesale Sources of Milk..
All the milk received from the farms and _ other
wholesale sources (creameries and milk factories) is
practically mixed together at dairy X before distribution.
* Including nursery milk supplied from 21 cows belonging to
Dairy X (vide p. 40).
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