The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-18
WAR ON IMPURE MILK.

WAR ON IMPURE MILK.
OFFICIALS OF THE HEALTH BOARD INTERCEPT
CARGO AND DUMP PORTION OF IT IN
THE RIVERA FROG FOUND IN ONE OF THE
CANS.
Any one passing the market at the foot OF Spring
street yesterday morning. just after midnight would
have surprised party whose appearance and actions
clearly indicated that something unusual was
afoot. horse and buggy. fastened to post.
stood alone in the shadow Of building. and some
distance off. betrayed only by the occasional
glitter Of shield or tho flourish of locust
lurked half dozen policemen Evidently it was
their intention to avoid attracting attention. they
had strolled to the place of rendezvous singy and
in couples and the directions they receiving
from u couple Of gentlemen in civilians garb were
given quietly and with caution. A Peep into the
buggy in which the two civilians had come would
have afforded mixing OF the nature of the enter
prise. Experimenting glasses, lactometers, ther-
mometers and dippers, all packed in tho smallest
space suggested that the tactical fluid was in somo
way mixed up with the purposes of the nocturnal
expedition. And, indeed. such proved to be the
case, for the party under the direction of
Dr.s White, Of the Health Board, ard Inspec-
tor Louis Brennan, of the Same department
and their object the seizure aud examination OF
the milk brought to town from Putnam, Delaware,
Orange and Ulster counties. The practice OF send
ing skinned milk to the city, we'll plentfully
diluting it with water. has become SO general that
experts assert that the percentage Of pure milk
ipinitesimal. The motive of the Health Board s
determination to put end to the Illicit
traffic does not consist solely in its being dishonest.
The mere dilution Of milk. while serving to weaken
it anu rob it OF its nutritious qualities. might
overlooked did not serious consequences to the pub
water used in the weakening process is what
the authorities apprehension. In nearly every in
stance the water used by the darymen is taken from
springs and wells. and the readiness with which it
communicates infectious diseases is attested by nu-
merous examples.
Some time since Dr. Murcheson. an eminent
English physician OF Marylebone. set about
to satisfactorily establish that many Of tho
contagious which became epidemic there
were communicated through the medium of
watered milk. In several instances tho water in
which infected persons had washed thrown
away near the wells whence was drawn the liquid
with which the milk was diluted, and this soaked
through tho ground and carried TIE germs Of disease
into the fluid which was subsequently exposed for
sale aud consumption. Many instances DO cited
of the propagation OF scarlet fever diphtheria aud
smallpox by diluted milk, and IL is with the
purpose Of eectually stopping the practice that Dr.
getically. On the lactometer they depend to
tain the percentage OF water mixed with the fluid,
and by analysis and other more speedy methods
they learn whether any other authorizations have
been made. Pure milk will stand recorded on the
lactometer from no to 100 But. knowing that
water i'll some quantities will certainly be
used. the health authorities make ninety Ave
the limit, and all milk reaching lower
figure the scale is condemned. 1t is but short
time since DR.. White intercepted cargo of milk
from the Hudson River counties, about half Of
witch he found unit for and promptly EN- piled
into the river. Then some OF the mikmcn waxod
wroth, but. fancyng that they would be spared his
vistatons for u heightened period. they pursued
their custom under false conviction OF security.
Yesterday mornings operations intended to
undeceve them and show that rigid scrutiny is
being maintained
MILK DEALERS SURPRISED.
The William Cook IL tho vessel on which the lac
teal wealth oi Ulster, Delaware Putnam and Orange
counties ~ ut times conveyed to the city, and the
mysterious muster 1T the Spring Street Market yes
teriay morning was brought about for the purpose
OF interccpting hor. As some od-tashioned loud
voiced clock near by struck tho hour OF ono the
party made for the pier at the foot OF Canal street.
where the steamer usually lands. Tho dealers who
vcnd the fluid in the city out in force aud
when they discovered that the police had taken pos
session Of the pier there was quite sensation
ainicaole, and some OF them went far TO
express their consciousness OF being benefited by
the Interference OF the officials.
THE DAIEyMEN ourwrrrEp.
1t was long and drcary watch both officers and
milkinen had for the arrival of the William Cook.
Hours rolled away and still the officials stood ready
to board the vessel OF which no sign appeared. so
time passed and four o'clock was pointed out the
dial without word OF the expected cargo reaching
the throng. Then. however, movement began, at
first quiet and imperceptiblc, but soon sufficiently
marked s to catch the eye 81 tue police. The
Some had gone away quietly, others had
disappeared with rumble and clattcr. What could
it mean? We're the dealers giving up business tor
the day. II was very minutes before the cause
ascertained. The cargo had been landed at Har-
rison street and the dealers had been invited to steal
of and load up there while the authorities were
Keeping watch and ward over the Canal street pier
Tho latter were equal to the emergency, however,
ana soon Inspector Brennan with stalwart officer
was flying along West street in buggy to intercept
the cargo. They wcro at the landing soon nv the
first milk wagons, and taking post at the
forbade the removal OF single can. Then DIR. White
arrived and, Notwithstanding the murmurs OF some
of the disappointed dealers. he went to work testing
every can. Tho members OF the Sanitary Police
Squad who were ON hand were posted at the place of
exit and they rolled aside such cans as tho Doctor
condemned Evidently the dairymcn had taken to
time since. tor the Doctor was forced to admit
marked improvement in tho quality OF tho milk
fnoa IN MILK
Some of the dealers quite eloquent In their
praise OF the milk they put IN tho market, and one
of them just Wanting his confidence in its
utter freedom from dilution when his assertion
mot with u rather peculiar but very reliable contra
dicton. The Doctor had just uncovered ono of hts
cans, and there. floating about in tho white nuud,
with his eyes bright as ever aud wearing a general
air ot solid comfort, was young frog, fresh from
some dairyman's spring. 1t did not require the
lactometor to decide that that milk had met with
plentiful Watering, and back the can rolled
among the condemned material. whilc the rustic
prisoner released from duress, hoped silently away.
When the examination OF all the cans had been
finished IL was broad daylight, and then began u
scene that had curious interest for tho transfers
and dock labofers who began to flock around ON
the gangpank stood the Sanitary Police and through
their lines can after can Of milk was passed 20 DC
emptcd into the water underneath. All around tho
vessel the river whityicd by the sudden infusion
of the congcnal liquid, and when every drop had
been disposed OF Dr. White led OH his nuxarics,
and tho empty cans were checked back to thcir
country owners to tolch tho lesson that Swimming
and diiuting have now become costly experiments.