Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-06-09
THE MILK QUESTION.

OF all the articles Of human diet, none
stands 50 high, both for its nutritive quail
ties and wholesomeneSS, as milk. 1t is the
sole support in infancy, and all through life
it enters in some of its forms into mans
daily food. This universal use of milk by
the human family, renders it an article of
prime necessity, and the constant de-
mand for It has led to wholesale adul-
terations, which, owing to its complex
composition can only be detected by the
skillful examination of the chemist. The
rich cream, that gives milk its greatest
| value, is oftentimes removed and water sub
stituted, which involves the addition of
some thickening substance to disguise-and
conceal the fraud. These frauds are prac-
ticed in large cities to such an extent by
the substitution of chalk water and other
vile ingredients, which generate disease
among consumers, that commits
sioners have teen appointed
by the municipal governments to. Investi-
gate and report. These reports in every
case show the unhealthy character of the
ingredients used, and the dangerous char
acter of the diseases arising from the use
of milk so tempered with.
Nor is this adulteration chargeable for
the most part to the farmer, but to the
middle man, who anxious to null
tiply his profits, doubles the quantity of
his milk, and throws back upon the
farmer all that s0urs or spoils on his hands.
The impossibility of reaching by law such
frauds has opened the question whether it
would not be better to establish milk con
densiug factories over tie country, so that
farmers may have their surplus milk put
into a form that will enable them to pre-
serve t longer and also to put it upon the
market at cheaper rates. It is well known
fact that about Sc per cent. Of milk as it
comes from the COW is water. This water
may, by a process invented by Mr.. Gail
Borden, Jr., of Litchfeld, Conn.,, be expelled
and all the valuable parts Of the milk re-
)
ing it with ice it may be kept for many
weeks sweet and good, and when put in
cans Theoretically sealed, may be carried
Oh a voyage around the world. The Fed
eral army in its invasions of the South
were invariably supplied with this article
for hospital purposes, and its use was ap-
proved by tie most distinguished surgeons
and chemists as well as by all the Sanitary
commissions.
Now, if the consumers of milk in large
cities, could use the condensed article, which
is nothing more than the ordinary milk
deprived of seVenty-five per cent Of water
the chances for adulteration would be largely
diminished and would stimulate the rural
populations, remote from the large cities to
erect Condensing factories. The cost of one
Of those with all its appliances are from
$4,000 to $4,000. 1t is thought by men
whose judgment in this matter is worthy of
the highest respect, that the general adop-
ton of this milk would greatly re-
duce the number Of diseases among
children and the terrible mortality which
prevails among them in large cities. There
is a method practiced in New York which
makes an article that is sold as 'fsolidifed
milk" which differs greatly from the con-
densed milk in the fact that one-fourth of
the weight Of the milk is added in sugar;
also small quantity of the bicarbonate of
soda. This mixture is evaporated and the
milk and sugar reduced to a creamy look
ing powder which is composed into small
brick-like cakes by machinery and covered
with tin foil. This is usually carried on
long voyages or in places where the plain
condensed milk would not keep. A large
establishment for making this solidiied
milk is in operation in New York city and
does large and profitable business.