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91
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
" 'I visited the farm on February 1st. Instructions
were given to notify the dairyman in London who
received the milk from this farm. The dairy is isolated
from the house, and no one from the house was to enter
the dairy or handle the milk.
" 'The water supply is from a spring in the coraline
formation on Blunsdon Hill, one mile distant, and it has
been in use for thirty years. Last summer two cottages
were built on this hill, about fifty yards above spring, one
only has been inhabited, and no illness has occurred since
the occupation in September of last year. No case of
Fnteric has been reported in Blunsdon parish for ten
years. The drainage of these cottages is to a ditch near.
I hardly think it can have polluted the spring. I fancy
the infection of the milk has occurred at the farm. I
have ascertained that the copper, provided in the dairy
for heating water for cleansing the milk utensils, is also
used for domestic purposes, including the family washing.
" 'If I can give you any further information please
let me know.
1 am, faithfully yours,
"'F. Edward Streeten.
" 'Dr. P. Caldwell Smith.' "
"There seems to be no reason to doubt that the milk was
contaminated at the farm, but it is not clear from the information
which has up to the present time been received, at
what date this contamination took place. As far as the first
symptoms are concerned in all the cases notified in this district,
and in Barnes, I agree with Dr. Crookshank that the milk
was probably infective on the 16th January. I have not yet
been able to ascertain the date of the first symptoms of the
case notified to Dr. Streeten on the 29th January, but I am
making further inquiries.