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"cleanliness and wholesomeness of the supply. If this be done, in the event
"of milk being found to be of an unsatisfactory character, or prejudicial to
"health, it will be possible to communicate with farmers, warning them that
"the Borough Council is inquiring into the cleanliness and wholesomeness of
"milk sent into the Borough, and is considering the best method of preventing
"the distribution of milk prejudicial to health, and especially to hand-fed
"infants of suckling age," and the Council approved and adopted the following
recommendation:— "That samples of the milk consigned to the Borough be
"submitted to bacteriological examination, and that your Committee be
"instructed to report further as to the number and the cost for the approval of
" the Council."
The Public Health Committee further recommended —
"That during the hot weather, thirty samples of milk be examined
bacteriologically, as to (1) the volume of apparent filth, (2) the
nature of the filth-presence of debris, pus, blood, streptococci, and
tubercle baccilli (3) the degree of acidity, and (4) the number of
microbes per C.C. on gelatine at 20°C.—22°C. (60°F.—71.6°F.),
in batches of four or five samples at the time, at the cost of one
and-a-half guinea per sample."
This recommendation was approved and adopted by the Borough Council.
An account of the mode and results of sampling and bacteriologically
examining Nursery Milks will be found in Part V. of this Report under the
head of Food.
III.—INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
§ 1.—DISCOVERY AND DIAGNOSIS.
It is well to know that unrecognised cases largely spread infectious diseases.
Discovery.—Mild cases of indisposition or disease excite no particular attention,
or are attributed to other than the real cause by parents, guardians, or friends,
and are not submitted to medical examination. When cases of suspected
infectious diseases are discovered there is sometimes considerable difficulty and
delay in making an exact medical diagnosis in certain types of the diseases.
Here bacteriological and additional clinical examination are brought to bear
upon doubtful types, and to check on confirm the diagnosis.
Bacteriological Tests.— The number of specimens of secretion, blood and
sputum submitted to bacteriological tests during' the year in susnected cases of
Diphtheria,