New-York tribune., 1905-01-15
DANGER OF EPIDEMIcs.

What the adult has to fear most from milk
produced by careless and thoughtless dairvmen
is contagious disease. According to Dr. Free
man, there We're ffty-three epidemics of typhoid
fever attributed 70 milk. twenty-six Of scar
latina, eleven Of dphtheria two of foot and
mouth disease. three of throat affection two of
acute poisoning by milk and one of Asiatic choI-
era in different parts of the world between 1880
and 1895. These were the only epidemics in
vestigated and reported 1t is not known how
many epdemics have occurred in New-York
from infected milk for no effort is made 10
learn the name of the milkman who serves the
family in which Of any Of these diseases
is discovered. and therefore it is not possible to
connect the case with any particular supply of
milk There have been. according TO Dr. Free
man. two small epidemcs in Buffalo as re-
suit Of infected milk. and in London there have
been three. One of these. an extensive epidemic
of scarlet fever. is Familiarity known as the Hen
don epidemic.
number of epidemics have occurred within
the territory from which New-York City draws
its milk supply. In Port Jerv!s in the fall of
1884 there was one in which there were 14S
cases OF these 12S were consumers Of milk
from one dairy. Upon investigation it was
found that there had been three cases of ty-
phoid fever at the dairy in the months Of Au-
gust and September These were nursed by the
same person who attended to the dairy work.
This person washed the utensils in the house
and wiped them towels also used in the
house. In March, 1894, there was an epidemic
Of the same disease at Montclair, n, j.. OF the
115 cases 101 obtained their milk from one
dairyman. There were fifteen deaths. The son
of the milkman had typhoid just before the out
break of the epidemic. In Stamford Conn an
epidemic of typhoid broke out in 1895 OF the
$50 cases which developed. 376 were consumers
of milk served by milkman. There were
twenty-five deaths. The epidemic was evidently
due to washing the cans with contaminated
water.
As the causes of the epidemics mentioned In
dicate diseases of this character may be COM
municated very easily. DR.. Freeman said: "On
a little farm the utensils are usually cleaned in
the house. Farmers usually have one bedroom
on the lower floor in a case of sickness the
patient is moved TO this room where il is easier
10 care for the case. There is great danger from
such a condition this. Milk Is grand medium
for developing cultures of bacteria 1t is often
for this reason used by bacteriologists for this
purpose
Illustrating this easy method OF spreading
disease is the epidemic of typhoid fever which
occurred in Springfield. Mass. in August. 1892.
There We're $50 cases of which l3o had used
one farmers milk. There were twenty five
deaths. IL was found that the water in which
the milk was submerged by this farmer. i'm or
der TO cool it, contained bacilli often associated
with those Of typhoid fever. The cans were
submerged in 1t with wooden plugs in their
mouths 10 keep out the water Some of the
plugs found 10 leak The farmers wife
had had typhoid fever These cases prove that
too much care cannot be taken 10 have the con-
ditions under which New-York's milk supply
is produced entirely sanitary.
DR.. LEDERLE ON CONDITIONS.
Dr.. E, T. Lederie. the predecessor of DR.. Oar
lington as head Of the Health Department said
recently: 1T is only in the last few years that
the department has given much attention to the
matter of clean supply of milk. and It is only
two years since this work has been systemati-
caIly carried on by II. II began with bacteri-
ological tests Of samples OF milk delivered by
the dealers and the tracing Of unusually bad
samples to the dairy IN the country. In almost
every case the proof was suhstantiated that
the bacteriological contents are an index to the
cleanliness Of the milk. the condition under
u,bf-h ft produeed the method OF sub