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The infected farm milk infected certain of the
distributors, viz., regular distributors 12 and 19 and
"odd" man E.F., whilst regular distributor No. 19
probably infected No. 2 (with whom he lived in the same
house) and regular distributor No. I was probably infected
from his own child, who sickened with the disease on
November 29th, and was notified and removed to
Hospital on December 3rd, 1913, the father's work being
stopped on the same day.
The incubation period is shorter in milk diphtheria
than in other kinds, varying from a few hours to a few
days (average 3 days), so that, in drawing conclusions
from the dates of onsets, this fact must be borne in
mind.
Farm infection ceased when pasteurisation of the
milk commenced (December 12th), and, allowing the
average incubation period of three days, any patients
sickening with diphtheria after December 15th, could not
be farm infected, provided, of course, the pasteurisation
was efficiently carried out, and there was no reason for
supposing that such was not done, the pasteurising
plant being a modern one and carefully worked.
Dealing with the "carrier" infection in the same way,
and allowing the same average incubation period for
milk diphtheria, such infection would continue until
December 21st for regular distributors Nos. 12 and 19
and for "odd" man E.F., and until December 26th for
regular distributor No. 2, according to the dates when
their work was stopped, so that between December 12th
(pasteurisation commenced) and December 18th and 23rd
(dates of stoppage of distributors' work), new patients
might be expected to sicken. In connection with the
rounds of regular distributor No. 1 the "carrier" infection
(if any) from him would cease on December 6th, i.e.,
3 days after his ceasing from work. Let the facts speak
for themselves in the following summary:—
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