St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-08-17
STARTED FROM A Roy.
Recent Outbreak OF Diphfheria Not
Caused by Cows.
State BOARD NJ Health

Recent Outbreak of Diphfheria Not
Caused by Cows.
State Board OF Health.
Secretary's Office
Brattleboro, Vt, AHg. 6, 1910.
To the local board of health of St
Johnsbury. Vermont, f. s. Harri-
man, secretary.
Gentlemen
On July 9Th, last, diphtheria was
reported as having appeared in your
village. On investigation, it was
found that there were fifteen cases:
eleven of them were in families re-
ceiving their milk supply from the
Fairbanks farm; the remaining four
could be traced to contagion from
tneSe eleven. An inspection of the
Fairbanks creamery, stables and herd
was made, and the dairy placed under
quarantine, pending further investi-
cation. The creamery was found to
be carefully cared for and sanitary
The stables were also clean. The herd
was inspected by four veterinaries, and
pronounced apparently healthy The
Fairbanks company was ready to aid
in any possible way in determining
the cause of this outbreak
The first sample of milk taken from
this dairy for examination, was mixed
milk from the whole dairy collected
on July 7th, and showed diphtheria
germs. On the 18th, samples were
taken separately from each COW, and
three were reported positive, as was
also mixed sample. These three
cows were isolated. Individual sam
pies from these three cows and
mixed sample, from the rest of the
herd, We're taken after cleaning the
cows and proved negative, but a posi-
tive culture was obtained from the
udder of one cow before washing
No eruption was visible, nor anything
abnormal except a couple of small
warts, moist at the base. Later
samples of the mixed milk were again
positive and individual samples
showed the germs in several cases
me cows We're all given another
washing with diSinfection and indi-
Vidual samples taken on July 23rd
were all negative as were also Gull
lures from the udder taken at this !
date. Another sample of mixed milk
taken July Both, was found negative. !
Inc germs isolated from the milk
were inoculated into a guinea pig. |
proving to be of but low virulence. |
Cultures were taken from the en- |
pIoyees at the dairy and were all mega
i've but a culture taken July 18th !
from a girl, Violet Brooks who de- |
lVered some of the milk, showed diph- |
iberia germs. This girl delivered only !
a part OF the morning milk while the
rest OF that milking and the night
milk was delivered by others, yet all
the cases apparently traceabIe to the
milk supply occurred on the route
OF this girl. Therefore, it would seem
probable that she. rather than the
milk itself, had transmitted the dis
ease.
The origin of this epidemic is not
clear, but one of the earliest cases
was boy (Carl Murphy who, when
first seen by a doctor, had a mem
brane in his throat which had been !
sore for several days. During this
time he had brought milk to his fam
lily from the Fairbanks dairy, and had
been in and about the miIk-room.
His father says that there had been
several cases of sore throat in the
family before this boy was sick, but
no doctor had been called 1t seems
possible that diphtheria had existed
mere in a mild form for several weeks.
hat this boy carried the infection to
his Brooks girl, and scattered germs
about the milk-rOOm whence they
we're conveyed to the COWS by the
hands of the mixer.
Respectfully submitted in behalf of
he state board of health. {
(Signed)
HENRY D. HOLTON
Secretary and Executive Officer.
L hereby certify that the above is
| correct copy of letter.
FRED S. HARTMAN
Health Officer