Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-08-07
ADULrERATED AND IMPURE MIL

Alleged to be a Potent Cause of Disease.
The following extract is taken from the
forthcoming report Of Health Officer Geo.
]. Garrison;
while such discussion is being had
upon the subject Of impure wateras cause
of disease and increased mortality in this
city, there are other things pregnant with
IN health and which have a large influence
upon the mortality rate of the city. Among
these there are none more potent, and yet
none more easy 10 remedy, than the sale of
adv 'erated or impure milk. Cows milk
is one of the most valuable articles of food.
The study of its composition shows IL 10
be a model food, perfectly adapted to the
needs of the human economy. 10 consti-
tutes the sole food of thousands Of infants
and sick persons. and enters very generally
into the diet of most individuals.
The quantity Of milk sold daily in
/ Wheeling isat low estimate 10000 quarts,
which, az a valuation Of six cents q quart,
represents daily expenditure Of 500 for
this one article of food. The 3,bJOWO
quarts Of milk consumed in each year cost
about $4,000. 10 is therefore Of great i'm
portauce that a trade Of such vast proper
lions. involving "a commodity which enters
I into the diet Of most persons, which Is at
times the sole article Of food Of "a large pro
portion Of the community, should be placed
under official regulation, both for economic
and sanitary reasons. The necessity for
such regulation exists because the sale of
adulterated and impure milk is common
practice. and one which citizens in their
Individual capacity are powerleSs 20 pre-
vent The result Of such practice is loss
of money and injury of health 10 the con-
sumner
until lSS5, Of the 120OOO,00O quarts OF
milk annually brought TO New York City,
| 1000 900 quarts were added water, the
cost OF the water being about S2,O0O, 900.
Investigation Of the milk traffic in every
city almost shows that the adulteration by
water alone amounts 10 0ne-third Of the
volume sold. OF course, Wheeling has no
such wicked milk dealers, or perhaps the
art of adulteratiOu has not been brought %
such a high state as in some other cities
| but provided the same conditions Of traffic
existed here as elsewhere, Of the 3,6jO,OO
quarts OF milk annually sold in this city
| i.2l6OOO quarts would be added water, and
/ the cost Of this water would be about
/ $4,000
..Iniury 70 health which results from the
use of milk that has been adulterated or Is
| impure is due 20 its deficiency in nutriuvC
| value or 20 the specific causes OF such dis
l eases as scarlet fever, tuberculosis, an
/ thraN or malignant puStule, footaud-mouti
/ disease. or 70 some abnormal condition i'm
parted 10 by the COW. or arising after the
milk has been taken from the gland. The
milk may be poisoned from the use of i'm
| proper food or from improper management
| TvrotoNicOn. an organic poison, Is some
| times thus produced. its effect upon the
vouuc infant being very serious.
/ "The addition of water the most common
form of authorization, which depreciateS the
nutritlve value Of milk, is more serious
| ofense than commonly supposed. Inc
| thousands of Young infants and sick per
/ sons who use milk as their sole article OF
I food are deprived thereby of the necessary
nourishment; i'm one case leading TO slow
l Starvation. i'm the other TO consequences
l which may destroy the chances Of recovery
I i'm the critical periods OF disease
/ ~Ir an address delivered before The
/ .7'r.i- state Sanitary Convention, held at
I Wheeling. February 25th and 18th, 1890
I Professor John A Myers, Director of Wes
! Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station
"The milk man who skins his milk anC
! then waters 10 is a saint, and deserves
! front pew among the most pious, compared
I with him who brings tle milk oil disease
/ eotvs- such as those suffering from tuOcr
rulosis. liberated udders, diseased joints
/ or swollen glands. or from COWS fed upon
the dccomposing swills and s!ops of variou:
manufactures, or waters his COWS WIFI
,rafer ladened with all the disease germs
aourishing i'm sewage There should b,
very stringent laws passed and enforced
against this class Of citizens who deal out
death at the rate Of eight cents quart L
our children
There is no law in this city 10 prevent
the sale OF adulterated or impure milk
and am ordinance should be passed provid
/ inc Tor carrying into effect the provisions
I ~ &C. 20 OF Ch $50 Of the Code Of Yves
Virginia. which reads as follows; II
/ oerson fraudulently adulterate for the pur
I pose Of sale, anything intended for food OF
drink or il he knowingly sell or barter
anvtbipc intended for food or drink, which
/ Is not what il is represented to be, or wha
I In is sold for. he shall be confined in jail moi
/ more than one year. and fined not exceed
ing five hundred dollars; and the adulter
at.,i or other articles shall be forfeited OF
| DESTROYED "