Note 11 — NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH, Being for the year 1874.

P.S.—(August.)—It may be mentioned that no new facts came out subsequently either to strengthen or to weaken the suspicion above stated of milk being the carrier of the scarlatinal poison—beyond this, that there were several cases of the disease in another parish in which the dairy is situated, and in families supplied from the dairy. It may be added that the Kensington cases, which were remarkable for the suddenness with which the attack followed on the application of the supposed cause, all did well. They ran the usual course, and were followed by very free desquamation. There were no derivative cases. A similar outbreak was reported subsequently also within a few days after a dinner party at West Brompton. In this case, however, so far as I can gather—for I received little direct information on the subject—though the idea of a common cause of disease, as in the previous outbreak, was suggested, absolutely nothing could be traced to support the suspicion of milk-poisoning, for the dairy—several miles from Town—was found to be in an unimpeachable condition, and no sickness was discovered in the employés or their families, or at the London depôt. A very small quantity of cream appeared to have been consumed, the actual supply on the day in question being one shilling’s worth. For the present the bare facts of these cases can be simply stored for future use; and with the inferences which have been sought to be drawn from them must be taken quantum valeant.