Experiments on the Relation of the Cow to Milk-Diphtheria
Authors: Dean George , Todd Charles 
Published: May 2009

In this outbreak of diphtheria certain individuals suffered from diphtheria, and others from sore throat probably diphtheritic. These individuals obtained their milk supply from two cows. Members of one household who did not drink milk, or who used it only after sterilisation, escaped infection. The cows yielding the milk were found to be suffering from an eruptive disease of the udder, and both from the lesions and from the milk cultures of virulent diphtheria bacilli were isolated. The pathological condition in the cows preceded, by a short interval, the onset of the disease in the patients. Having regard to Power's epidemiological investigations, and to Klein's experimental work, this observation was of the greatest interest and naturally suggested the hypothesis that the lesions were due, primarily, to a specific diphtheritic infection of the cow. Further investigations weakened this view, for it must be noted:—

(1) That in a cow intentionally submitted to infection from the diseased cows and in which there occurred the eruptive condition of the udder, neither in the vesicular nor in the ulcerative stage of the disease could diphtheria bacilli be demonstrated.

(2) That in calves infected with the eruptive disease no diphtheria bacilli could be demonstrated.

(3) That in a calf, in spite of the fact that it had received 10, 000 units of diphtheria antitoxin, the vesicular eruption was experimentally produced. The last is probably the strongest point in support of the dual nature of the condition in the cows.

It is conceivable that pathological lesions in the cow such as those described, if infected with the diphtheria bacillus, might form a suitable nidus for its growth and permit of the infection of large quantities of milk over a considerable period. Though we have as yet no evidence on the subject it is possible that a profound change in the virulence of the diphtheria bacillus for the human subject might be effected by such passage through the cow1.

The disgusting habit the milkers in this part of England have, of spitting on their hands before milking, would easily account for the infection of the lesions, even in the absence of obvious diphtheria in the cowman; knowing, as we now do, that apparently healthy individuals are not uncommonly the hosts of the diphtheria bacillus.

The experiments made with the view of ascertaining whether the eruptive condition was genuine cowpox, are opposed to that view; for two calves, and one cow successfully infected with the eruptive condition and subsequently vaccinated with vaccine lymph, developed a typical vaccinia.

The somewhat limited time and material available have prevented us from investigating the matter so fully as we should have wished, or on a scale proportionate to its interest and practical importance. We hope at some future time to go further into the matter.

Our best thanks are due to Mr Sidney Villar, F.R.C.V.S., for bringing the outbreak to our notice, and for his help in the veterinary side of the question; and to Dr Carson Smyth for his kindness in allowing us facilities for taking cultures from the throats of his patients.