MILK, A CARRIER OF INFECTION.

Clutha Leader, Volume II, Issue 81, 27 January 1876, Page 7

MILK, A CARRIER OF INFECTION.

At Jarrow. the outbreak of typhoid fever was characteristically sudden Suddenly -on August. 15, it. was found that within the limited district of the urban medical officer's authority, no less than thirty-four cases, of typhoid fever had occurred in twenty different families, more than half the cases being among children. The houses were, with two exceptions', clean, and supplied with good water from the, mains of the water company. It soon, however, ap-. peated that the milk was supplied from the same source. The farm was at once visited. It was found that six of the farmer's family, were laid up with typhoid fever. The water used in the dairy was derived from a well in immediate proximity to a cesspit"; the water was evidently contaminated with filth by soakage,. so much so, indeed,that it became putrid on standing two days. The dairy was* used as a wasnhouse ; the linen from the infected persons was washed in it'; ahd the person who milked the cows was in immediate attendance on those who were laid up Vith the fever.: The unusual horror of these arrangements, and the violence, of t the first outbreak, together with the extreme promptitude with which the medical officer in -a- few hours; traced out the cause of the. feverand arrestedits- progress; . make this, little history imore sharply attractive, and! more immediately impressive than'.soaie.b'f .'the more protracted and large epidemics towhich we. have referred. The., whole facts are in a small . compass, and \the causes and effect, are seen side. by. side, and in:coutemppranepiiS acti'opi, \ A. A A i ■.