Day 077 - 25 Jan 95 - Page 46


     
     1   Q.   Did they require some kind of independent assessment or
     2        certification?
     3        A.  No, but we were subject to veterinary inspection by the
     4        United States Air Force.  They have a veterinary
     5        department.
     6
     7   Q.   Can we go back to the life of a germ, if we may?  What are
     8        the conditions in which these four (and they may be
     9        different, so if they are, please tell us) micro organisms
    10        will thrive and proliferate, the physical conditions; can
    11        you tell us that, please?
    12        A.  Moisture and a temperature either of 98.4 or 37 degrees
    13        C.
    14
    15   Q.   97.4 is the Fahrenheit?
    16        A.  Yes.
    17
    18   Q.   That is current blood temperature, is it not?
    19        A.  Yes.
    20
    21   Q.   Will they go on being relatively prosperous down a
    22        temperature gradient to a certain level?
    23        A.  No, the colder it gets, the more restrictive -----
    24
    25   Q.   They can still survive at may be -- "survive" is not the
    26        word they want -- they can still live happily, if you see
    27        what I mean, at may be 20 degrees Centigrade?
    28        A.  Yes, they can live but they will not multiply.
    29
    30   Q.   Where is the critical temperature where they stop
    31        multiplying?
    32        A.  Less than 10.
    33
    34   Q.   Less than 10.  You say that it also helps them if they have
    35        moisture?
    36        A.  Yes.
    37
    38   Q.   Within McKey's plant at Milton Keynes or at Scunthorpe, at
    39        what, if any, stage of your operation do conditions exist
    40        in which these organisms may proliferate?
    41        A.  None whatsoever.
    42
    43   Q.   You mean there is no stage of the operation which is either
    44        sufficiently moist or sufficiently warm for this to occur?
    45        A.  Correct; it is a matter of temperature.
    46
    47   Q.   Have you read the report of Mr. Richard North, the recent
    48        report, which was made for the Defendants in this case?
    49        A.  I have.
    50 
    51   Q.   I do not know where Mr. North's report is to be found. 
    52 
    53   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  I still have it; in fact, I read it during
    54        the mid-day adjournment.  Mr. Rampton, I do not know how
    55        scientific one is going to have to become on this --
    56        possibly not at all -- but I would like to know what the
    57        importance of number of organisms per gramme is.  I mean,
    58        is one organism enough to infect you, or do you need
    59        several hundred thousand, or is it just out of several
    60        hundred thousand there is more chance of you picking up one

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