Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-31
DISEASE In TIE MILK.
INVESTIGATION INTO THE HEALTH
FuLNESS OF DAIRY PRODUCTS.

Scientists Have Discovered That There
is Danger in the Milk Can-Contagion
at the Dairy-AIarming Aspect of the
Question.
The subject Of purity and healtbfulness of
milk and its products has received much at
tention from medical and sanitary authorities
during the past year, and some very remark
able results of investigations are now being
made public. A lecture on the -etiology OF
scarlet fever was recently delivered by DR..
e. Klein, F, C. s., before the Royal institu-
ton in London The principal theme Of the
| paper was the relation of scarlet fever to
milk supply. The possibility OF the dissemina-
ton, and even origin, of the disease from this
source was considered at length. Recorded
cases are quoted TO prove its possibility. The
| lecturer treats it certainty that milk has
thus caused the spread Of scarlet fever. Ex-
periments by N. Gathier, French scientist,
have been published. These were directed TO
tubercular sickness. Dairy produce from
cows affected with tubercular disease was the
subject OF the Investigations. Professor Gal
tbier found that such articles of diet could
communicate phthisis or consumption to
poultry and swine, and could become thus
directly or indirectly serious menace to man
Within the last few years a number of out
breaks OF disease have been traced with great
certainty 10 diaries as the center of contagion
50 well proved have these cases seemed, that
they have originated special popular names
for the sicknesscs thus occasoned. Thus
milk typhoid, milk scarlatna, and milk dph-
iberia have come to DO recognized In a
number OF accurately recorded cases, an out
break OF some specific disease ha, been noted
Tho general history IN all was identical. Tho
spread was limited to certain number Of
families. The medical officers found that all
tho families thus affected were supplied with
milk from the same dealer. Then. on exam
ming the stables or dairy whence the milk
came, the source of contagion was manifest
A case of scarlet fever would be found in the
family or among the employees, or some OF the
residents possibly had diphthera In num-
ber OF instances such conditions were estab-
lshed. At the present time the English
aealth authorities consider these cases proved
They form the basis for somewhat dsquiet-
ing suspicion affecting our milk supply
But there is II more alarming aspect Of the
question The result OF some of the more re-
cent observations IL that cows may them
selves become infected with sickness re-
sembling scarlet fever, and that such cows
may, by their milk, canso the true scarlet
fever TO be developed IN human beings.
This conclusion has been led to by an eK-
animation of data in recorded cases. In some
instances where the origin of the sickness
was traced TO milk and where also a scarlet
fever case had existed IN some person con-
nected with the dairy, too long period
elapsed before the breaking out of the cpl
demc 20 allow it to bo attributed to direct
conveyance by the milk Another class of
cases is cited In which a human origin, prox-
mate or ultimate, could in no way be traced
In one such instance an outbreak of scarlet
fever was associated with a certain dairy
No human being could in any way be fixed
upon us the originator. Even the sanitary
conditions were examined, with negative re-
suits. The disease was finally attributed to
certain cows Examination of them showed
the presence of disease, whose symptoms in
cluded sores upon the body, ulcerations and q
yscerul complaint resembling that occurring
In scarlet fever in the human being The
outbreak had, from other data, been limited
TO these cows MS a source. Their disease so
similar to the human scarlet fever made it
almost n certainty that they were the origin
Of the trouble.
The examination by bacterial analysis was
entered into and confirmed these suspicious.
The Same micrococcus was found in the blood
of scarlet fever patients and In the affected
cows. The action of the human microbe on
animals was identical with that of the vac
elmo one. This investigation, a full outline Of
which it Is needless to give, clinched the
proof. Succeeding occurrences investigated
In tho same general way gave Identical re-
suits
1t may be considered as clearly proved that
milk can be serious source Of danger to
health or life. The remedy is simple one,
BY heat the micrococci are destroyed If the
milk Is heated to 1856 deg. F., it will be ren-
dered safe, Any infectious microbes present
will be killed. But while this disposes of the
milk iJ does not touch the disposal of milk
products Butter, cream and cheese are all
uncooked. Butter represents raw fat, or un-
cooked oleagnous matter. 1t cannot be
heated to high degree without injury. Ono
of the methods of freeing it from casen was
10 melt it, but the process was found 10 cause
deterioration. Butter must be uneooked-
Scientific American.