London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Stepney 1920

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]

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22
"Of the remaining 24 samples, in only one instance has the milk definitely
proved to be tuberculous. In this case, sample No. 27, the guinea pig killed after
four weeks showed local tuberculous abscesses, tuberculosis of the lymph glands and
commencing tuberculosis of the spleen.
"In none of the samples were tubercle bacilli found in direct smear preparations.
Of the 30 samples examined, therefore, tubercle bacilli were proved by guinea pig
inoculation only in one case.
"The bacteriological examination of the milk, although not specially asked for,
was made partly as the result of the intraperitoneal inoculation of the first six
samples and partly following upon the observation of the film made from the deposits
and primarily stained for tubercle bacilli.
"These films were in nearly every instance swarming with cocci and bacilli
of various kinds.
"Of the six guinea pigs inocuolated with samples Nos. 1—6 :—
Sample No. 1.—Negative.
„ No. 2.—Guinea pig died of general peritonitis in 48 hours.
„ No. 3.—Guinea pig killed three weeks later showed the remains of
general peritonitis, and purulent residual intraperitoneal
abscesses.
„ No. 4.—Guinea pig killed three weeks later showed the adhesions
of old peritonitis.
„ No. 5.—Guinea pig died of general peritonitis within 48 hours.
„ No. 6.—Guinea pig killed after three weeks showed the adhesions
of old peritonitis and residual intraperitoneal abscesses.
"Of the guinea pigs thus inoculated, only one therefore escaped. Five
got general peritonitis, of which two died within 48 hours and three made a partial
recovery.
"Of the 24 guinea pigs inoculated intramuscularly in the leg, three developed
septic abscesses, and of these one had to be killed owing to the size of the abscess,
and one other pig, as stated above, got local tuberculosis.
"In the following samples, the actual bacteriological contents was estimated and
the approximate nature of the bacteria present was worked out. Samples 19—-24
were examined by the method of decimal dilutions for their bacterial contents.
The figures given are, however, possibly exaggerated since the cultures were not
put up immediately, but after the milk had been kept for 24 hours on ice. It is also
fair to add that at the time at which all these samples were examined, there was a
period of warm weather, when bacteriological multiplication would be rapid.