Mr. W. H. Power's report to the local government board on epidemic prevalence of diphtheria in North London.

  • Power, W. H.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mr. W. H. Power's report to the local government board on epidemic prevalence of diphtheria in North London. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    14 mentative or putrefactive change, or even to become “ fly-blown.” Moreover part of the hay has been supplied from the Muswell Hill farm, from certain low-lying meadows which, at particular seasons of the year, are irrigated with Hornsey sewage. It should, however, be mentioned that during the present year none of the Muswell Hill cows were grazed on that farm until after hay harvest. (b.) As to movements of coivs.—At both places the cows have been habitually and for a length of time obtained as required from a single cow breeder in the country. The number at each place has, of course, varied from time to time according to the require- ments of business; but it may be taken as one of the essential features of a milk business pure and simple that constant change of cows has been required. To be profitable cows must be in full milk, and thus as soon as they begin to “ dry off,” they are got rid of and their place supplied by others. As an instance of the amount of change of this sort required in a considerable business, it may be mentioned in regard of one of the above businesses that during the three months ended in May last, 29 fresh cows were received, and about an equal number got rid of. Of these 29 fresh cows, 25 had already calved, and 4 had yet to calve at the date of their reception by Mr. X. As to transference of cows from one place of business to the other, this is admittedly an occasional occurrence, though it is one of which no book records are kept. Trans- ference of cows from Muswell Hill to Kilburn during the period of the outbreak is not remembered to have occurred. (c.) As to health of cows.—It is affirmed that at neither place has serious illness of cows occurred during the present year; and that certainly there has not been any recognised infectious illness among the cows. But this affirmation does not exclude (nor was it intended to exclude) occurrence among cows of “ cold ” or other minor ailment. It is a matter of great regret to me to be obliged to present a report, which, while attributing to milk the outbreak I was directed to investigate, is negative as to the way or ways in which that milk became infective. This may be partly due to the complexity of the conditions requiring investigation, and to the lapse of time between the operation of the cause of the throat illness and the date of commencement of the inquiry. But there are indications that, had investigation been possible concurrently with the initiation, maintenance, and decline of operation at each place of this cause, the result might have been different. Any speculative explanations, however, that may have occurred to me are, I feel, beyond the scope of this report. W. H. POWER. LONDON: Printed by Georoe E. Eyre and William Spottiswoodr, Printers to the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty. For Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. [B 1314.—100.—3/79.]