Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-08
AFTER THE DAIRY FARMERS.

DIR. Hammett Wants a Law That Will Re-
quire Them to Register.
Health Officer Hammett has made another
move in the direction of procuring better milk
for the people of this city. The prosecutions
for the sale of watered, skinned or adulterated
milk have all been against the local dealers, and
DIR. Hsmmett is satisfied that many OF them
dispose Of the milk as they receive it, and are
not therefore guilty of tampering with the
milk. The doctor thinks therefore, the pro-
ducers should be proceeded against instead Of
the local dealers. In order to get some hold on
the producers DR.. Hammett thinks there ought
to be a law compelling them to register, if such
law could be made and enforced.
In a letter to the Commissioners DR.. Ham
NETT transmits the report Of Prof. Hird, the
chemist who had charge of the prosecutions.
DR.. HAMMETT's LETTER.
In the letter DIR. Hammett SAYS:
~ have the honor to transmit herewith the re-
port of milk analyses made by Prof. Hird,
chemist of this department. and to state in con-
nectlon Herewith that the Police Court has de-
cided that this department has no ordinance
under which dealers in SKINNED or dirty milk
milk that may be contaminated. can be
prosecuted. 1 would, therefore, suggest that
order be issued by the Commissioners re-
curing that all dealers in dairy products who
sell one more gallons Of milk daily shall be
licensed as such dealers. and shall also be reg
istered in a book kept by the health officer. and
that such dealers shall also furnish the names,
locations and addresses of the producers who
furnish the milk; also that the following regu-
lations be adopted and promulgated by the
Commissioners. viz:
NO milk which has been watered, adulter-
ated, reduced or changed in any respect by the
- l.,
removal of cream. shall be brought into, held,
kept or offered for sale at any place in the Dis
trict of Columbia; nor shall any dealer or other
person keep, have offer for sale in the said
District of Columbia any such milk.
with such regulation in force many cases
that are now thrown out upon technicalities
could be successfully prosecuted and the public
would be protected"
PROF. HIRD's REPORT.
Prof. Hird's report, accompanying the health
officers letter. is as follows:
Il submit herewith a report of the milk analy-
ses for the month ending MAY 81. 1898:
Number of analyses OF samples collected. 157
Number of analyses of samples from private
parties 9
Partial analyses OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 80
Total milk analyses. 2O4
''Of the Is! first mentioned 81. or over "a per
cent, were DeiOW the per cent or lat ana IL
per cent solids and bore direct evidence of hav-
ing been either SKINNED or watered
''23.5 per cent ranged from 8 to 3.5 per cent
of butter fat
800 9 per cent ranged from 3.5 to per cent
Of butter fat.
..1a.s per cent ranged from to ~ per cent
of butter fat.
81 per cent ranged from As up.
mo artificial cOloring matter has been found
during the month in any of the samples
Il desire TO again call attention to the large
amount of foreign matter, stable manure. sand
dust, &c, which is almost invariably found as
ISOLATED with the milk.
'Undoubtedly the producers in the country
responsible for this state of affairs, but as
this Office has no means OF knowing the names
or addresses Of those producers. / would recon-
mend that all dairymen be required to register
their own names and addresses and that Of
their shippers at this office. Such registry
would also greatly facilitate the work Of this
Office in the line of collecting samples and
would reduce the same to a system.
Il am of the opinion that such contamina-
ton as that spoken of might readily be the
means OF communicating disease, ard that
every effort should be made to eliminate the
same from the milk supply of this city,
The Commissioners will probably act upon
the suggestions of the health office at an early
day, and the matter will probably be referred
to Attorney Thomas for an opinion as to the
legality of the proposed regulation.