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known among farmers, and innocuous. The facts cited are
intended to prove that the milk of other dairies infected by cows
from the same herd as those which infected the Hendon cows,
was supplied to the public, at the same time, and in various
localities, in ordinary course of trade, without any evil effect (but,
it may be added, contrary to the provisions of the Dairies Order
cited above). The conclusion arrived at, therefore, is that the
London epidemic of scarlatina in December, 1885, due doubtless
to the consumption of the Hendon milk, "had its origin in some
obscure source connected with the Dairy by channels which inquiry
has failed to reveal." But it must be added that Professor Axe
does not appear to have seen the incriminated herd, his inquiry
having been made after the period in question, and his conclusion
deduced from the statements of persons who may not unfairly be
regarded as parties interested in minimising the gravity of the
conclusions arrived at by Mr. Power and Dr. Klein. And what is
even more strange, considering Professor Axe's professional
position at the Veterinary College, he does not refer to the
pathology of the cow-disease, which, however, he admits to be
contagious, and to have the power of protecting its victims from a
second attack. Mr. Power and Dr. Klein admittel all that the
Professor now asserts of the apparently harmless character of the
malady as it affects the cow—absence of constitutional disturbance,
etc.—but while Dr. Klein shows that the inoculated disease
in calves is followed by pathological changes in the viscera
identical with those found in fatal human scarlatina, Professor
Axe is silent on the point. The disease, "eruption of the
the teats," he states, is spoken of among the dairy-farmers (but
can it be the same disease?) as "cow-pox"; it is transmissible
to man, by inoculation, in the form of vesicles (vaccinia),
but is" incapable of communicating scarlatina or other epidemic
fever." Professor Brown states truly in his letter to the Lords of
the Council, introducing Professor Axe's report, that "the last
link in the chain of argument, constructed by Mr. Power and
Dr. Klein," viz., proof that inoculation with the matter from the
ulcers of the cow-disease will produce human scarlatina, is wanting.