LIVER FUNCTION TESTS

known that all the early patients in the zone and most of thoseelsewherewere known to haveconsumedsuspected milk, and no suspectedmilk was served in any area other than that which provided the cases. At the outset it was statedthat the Moorabbin outbreak was a typical milk-borne epidemic. It was, as Dr. Merrillees states,not a mild epidemic,but its termination, which in Dr. Scholes's opinion might have been more abrupt, was the result of careful and energeticwork. In spite of its typical characterthe outbreak raises several questions, some of which are sufftctently important to warrant separate discussion on another occasion. No mention has been made here of sewerageinstallation and of the part that flies may take in the spread of enteric fever. In the present instance the mention of flies was scarcely necessary. Dr. Scholes states that if every fly in the metropolitan area of Melbourne had been con, centratedat Moorabbin, their combined efforts could not have produced an epidemic such as that which occurred. The question of the prevention, discovery and treatment of typhoid carriersarises. It is a large question; though it was dealt with in 1933 in a specialreport by the Medical Research Council of Great Britain (see THE MEDICAL JOURNAL OF AUSTRALIA, Volume I, 1933, page 716). it will be discussed again shortly in these pages. Personal cleanliness among those who work in dairies and who handlefood generally, is anotherlarge subjectthat cannot easily be discussed. It is one thing to see that meansof washingand caring for the handsare provided; it is quite another matter to secure their intelligent use. A practitioner who came to Australia some years ago from England used to tell the tale of a demonstrationthat was made at a model dairy before a group of medical officers of health. The buildings of the dairy were spotlessly clean, to the milking area near the cow bail no exception could be taken, machinerydid most of the milking, stripping had to be done by hand. The milker was suitably clad in white, he washedhis handscarefully and scrubbed them in hot water, he sat on a clean metal stool and had a ster-iltzed pail to receive the milk, the cow's udder and the teatswere carefully washedand dried; when, however, the milker spat on his hands before setting to work, he could not understandwhy the assembledonlookers broke into hilarious mirth. The next question that arises in connexion with this epidemic is the pasteurization of milk-this is the most important of thosementioned. The authority that flrst makesthe public realize that it is not safe to drink raw milk will be numberedamongthe great benefactorsof the community for all time. The last point is that the health service in regard to medical officers should be adequate. Dr. Merrillees has something to remark in this regard when he recommendsthat full-time medical oflicers should be employed in all health services. This is one of the subjectsthat will merit early consideration after the war has come to an end. • llI:unent llI:omment.