OUR MEDICAL DEPARTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA. [To THE EDITOR OF
THE "SPECTATOR."] Sru,—I observe that one of your correspondents in the Spectator of August 11th maintains that hundreds of lives might have been saved in South Africa " had there been a sufficient supply of Swiss milk." This is a dangerous and misleading contention. There may be some forms of Swiss milk which are innoxious, but almost all Swiss milk is supplied in tins, and the mere process of tinning milk makes it a doubt- ful article of nutrition. The typical subject for milk diet is the infant, and there is scarcely any medical practitioner of experience and observation who has not seen the poisonous effects of condensed milk on infants, especially in gastric and enteric troubles. All " Swiss " milk is not made in Switzer- land. I saw two years ago in Holland a manufactory of " Swiss " milk, which was situated on the bank of a foul pool of water, the noisome stench of which was quite enough to taint any milk. Milk and preparations of milk (including Devonshire cream) should never be put into tins, but into air-tight glass or earthenware vessels.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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