The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-28
PASTET1REZATION ONLY
 RELIABLE PROTECTION,
 ASSERTS DIR. PETERS

Though one or more pathogenlc eX- aminations may be made of suspected milk and apparently prove free from germs, science has no means of detl- nitely stating that germs harmful 10 man are not present
 The proper way to treat milk sus- pected of having carried germs is to close it's supply indefinitely, and per sistentIy test the cows from which it is taken and the product of the herds until all possibility of harmful germ presence or absence is determined.
 Milk, while one of the best forms of nourishment known to humans, is at the same time one of the best pathO- genie mediums known to bacteriOlo- gists and is often used in laboratories for the purpose of growing cultures or propagating germs rapidly.
 When germs of an unknown disease are present in milk. pathogenically harmful to mankind, but not harmful when inoculated into experimental an- irna1s, science is at a distinct loss in determining the fact except by obser- vation of those affected with infection and tracing the disease in many to | specific cause.
 It has been found in Chicago \ where a glandular or septic sore 1 throat affection was prevalent that the COWS of one herd were affected | throat that later developed ing hu- mans. The local. epidemic is believed to have been caused in the same man. ner.
 | These are the views expressed to- 1 day by H. LeBaron Peters, bacteri o1o- l gist of the Bridgeport hospital and | one of the most eminent pathologists in this section of Connecticut. l In analysing the situation in detail Dr. Peters said in substance:v
 ''In the first place milk is one of the best mediums for growing organ isms. Harmful organisms grow very quickly in milk. Milk always carries bacteria but this does not mean that such bacteria is always harmful to human beings. Practically all forms | of streptococci are found in milk and 1 particularly the streptococci lacticus. t'StreptocOccus lacticus is not harm ful to a man in it's usual form but this may be crossed with other germs and even cultured in rabbits and other ex- perimentaI animals until it is very dangerous to human life. Therefore the presence of streptococci in any sam pie of milk is not to be considered harmful until the quantity of path ogenic bacteria is determined.
 ''In all milk examinations a certain 1 amount of organisms are present and 1 are allowed for. Above the normal | allowance the danger point to human beings is reached.
 There have been similar epidemics
 
 places the cows themselves were found to have had an epizootic or sore throat similar to the epidemic dis covered in the human beings. The epidemic, however, was neither hoof and mouth disease or glanders as it is generally known in horses.
 From my investigation of the epi- demic in this section. am firmly con- vinced that it is due to milk. Whether the animals from which the milk was taken are similarly effected with sore throats as in other cities I do not know. There is no question at all in my mind that milk infection here is the cause. This is impressed forcibly | upon me for it is not confined to school children or to one district but is general and has in nearly every case been associated with milk con- sumption. Therefore, there must be | some common cause. !
 gro locate this cause will be a mat ter of time Science is handicapped by the fact that all pathogenic organ