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44
I should like to make a brief reference to the last Finchley
outbreak. This occurred early in November of the year 1894.
The only source of infection which could be traced then was
three cows which were evidently out of health, with slightly
ulcerated teats, and one of the cows had an inflammatory
condition of the udder. I ascertained in that case that the
supply involved was distributed to 17 per cent. of the total
houses in West Finchley, but of the number of houses infected
it supplied 94 per cent. The conclusions which I then arrived
at (10 years ago) are similar to those which forced themselves
upon me as the result of my investigation of the recent
outbreak.
The conclusions which I then came to were:—"That the
outbreak was favoured by the excessive rainfall and variable
temperature of the preceding fortnight, upon a cold, damp
soil, at a season of the year when throat trouble is generally
markedly in evidence. Under these favourable conditions
a mild infection, probably conveyed in milk, was sufficent to
give rise to throat illness beyond its usual type and amount,
and to give it the property of infectiousness. I then recommended
the residents in the district, by means of posters, to
boil all milk during the ensuing fortnight, and in the meantime
steps were taken to ensure that the affected cows were
adequately dealt with, when the epidemic ended as suddenly
as it commenced." I was called to account on both occasions
tor' not acquainting residents of the particular milk supply
concerned in the outbreak. I purposely maintained a
reticence upon this point for the reason that I could not see
what good could result, and it was easy to see how harm might
be worked; for it is a general practice among milk vendors,
if they run short of milk, to buy of other vendors en route; so