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97
The following remarks by Dr. Houston in the abovementioned
report are interesting, and are here given:—
(1) B. Enteritidis SporcgonesTest.—Asminute
amounts both of human fœces and cow dung give a
positive result with this test, and as the spores of this
anaerobe do not seemingly multiply in milk under
ordinary conditions of time and temperature, it is obvious
that the test, as a test, may be of considerable value in
the bacterioscopic analysis of milk. Whether or not this
anaerobe may on occasion be the exciting cause of
Diarrhoea in the human being, is a controversial blatter
which need not be considered here."
(2) Coli Test.—Both human foeces and cow dung
contain B. coli in abundance. Unfortunately B. coli
multiplies rapidly in milk in summer temperature, so
that the results obtained may be interpreted with gieat
discretion. If, however, the proportion of a standard
temperature (below 10 deg. Centiigrade) for milk be
entertained, the test at once becomes of great value.
Under these circumstances the B. coli test is a valualle
means of measuring the degree of excremental pollution
of milk, and also is a means of guaging its bacteriological
status as regards potential danger to health."
(3) "Streptococcus Test. — Streptococci are
present in abundance in human saliva, in human foeces,
in cow dung, and in many morbid affections of the cows'
milk secreting apparatus. Moreover, serious epidemics
of illness have been ascribed to the ingestion of milk
containing specific Streptococci. Intrinsically this te6t
would appear to be unsurpassed in judging the purity
of milk were it not for two circumstances. One is that
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