| | | |
| Matzoon Long | 10.8 | 12. | ... | ... | ... | Observed by |
| staebschen B.| | | | | | Dueggeli |
| | | | | | | |
| Strepto- |2.61[34] ... | ... | ... | ... | Observed by |
| bacillus | | | | | | Rist and Khoury |
| lebenis | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| Streptothrix | 10.8 | 1.08 | 11.25 | 11.70 | 18.5 | Med. Coll., |
| dadhi | | | | | | Calcutta |
+--------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------------------+

In different parts of the world sour milk is consumed in great
quantities, and it is stated by Metchnikoff[35] that the chief food of
the natives of tropical Africa consists of soured milk, and in Western
Africa in the region south of Angola, the natives live almost entirely
on this product, there being a difference in the curdled milks produced
according to the nature of the microbial flora which is introduced.

It is stated[36] that in Servia, Bulgaria,[37] and Roumania there were
5000 centenarians living in 1896, and while many reasons are advanced
for such an abnormal condition of affairs, it seems fairly certain that
the sole reason why people in these districts live to such great ages is
because of their mode of living and the fact that they live very largely
on soured milk. The hygienic conditions throughout these countries are
not such as would give the population in the towns and villages any
special advantages in the prolongation of life, and while it may be
stated that a pastoral and agricultural life are likely to contribute to
longevity, these conditions would not account for a general tendency to
live long in the countries referred to, more than in any other
agricultural area. There are many countries throughout the world in
which the pastoral and agricultural existence is general, but it has
not been shown that in these countries life is prolonged. Hence the
conclusion has been forced upon investigators that the reason is to be
found not in the pastoral conditions, but in the habit which has existed
from time immemorial of consuming sour milk as a principal article of
diet.

There is no