The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-03
Dairymen Endorsed by Health
Officers Cannot Supply the
Demand for Pure Milk.
DISEASED COWS TRANSMIT POISON.
Names of Uninspected Diaries Are
Now Circulated in the Public
Schools.

The Oakland Board of Health and it's
friends nave dec ded 10 do some mission
airy work among the people of the city and
its surroundings. They want to teach
some OF the modern doctrines of sanitary
science and will begin by tracing the
number of deaths from tuberculosis and
kindred diseases. They will show-or
they say they wilI-lhat the mortality of
little children in particular Is largely due
10 the SAFE of bad milk.
alt is somewhat of a difficult task.
said DR.. Dunn yesterday, Ito learn lust
how many gallons of infected milk are
sold here every day, but the amount may
be roughly Appropriated by ascertainine
how many cows are in the diaries that re-
fuse to submit to examination. Ii the
number should be 500, for example, we
will figure very safely that 10 per cent of
them have consumption. That would be
fifty cows. If fifty cows have consump-
ton their milk is bad. AS 1t is mixed
with the milk oil the healthy COWS, the
owners not being able to tell which one.
are sick, ii is virtually the pollution OF all
the milk of the unInspected diaries.
think the exact figures would be very
startling, on the principle that one burnt
clam will spoii whole pot of chowder."
1t is believed thai statistics of the chill
dren that have died from impure m TX
will startle tae community. Ii is not vet
known when The publication of the fig-
ures Will be made, but the authorities are
looking through the records Tor some
thing of a substantial character with
which to confront the dairym who still
object to the inspection of their cattle.
President Rucker OF the Board of
Health, speaking of the situation yester-
tax n a TAla nf he
said:
The Board Of Health wants to do its duty as
it unders ands it. We want to adopt the best
method OF protecting the public against i'm
purities in food anu drink aud the enforce
mont OF the laws OF hygiene. We want 10
convince the public that we are trying Ia do
our duty in the present light of sanitary
science We want the aid and cooperation
OF our Board OF Supervisors and of our Civ
Council In passing the necessary ordinances
to ena bic us to gain control of tile conteqion
in our city and county.
Above all, We want State laws so p]ain md
forceful that no Board OF Health can he ~
Dered in the discharge OF its proper tunc-
tons.
ance. Milk is the proper food for children.
and 1t Is criminal to permit its use among
them without taking every precaution re
have 1t pure and free from d sease germs
The Oakland Board OIL Heath has been on
gagged for some time in a crusade against rho
sale of unwholesome milk in our city. Ne
nave DOSi Gull cllcu W auOpL various h
obs for Teliei, because we despaired OF gefting
any aid from our City Council Sevars1
months ago our board was invited IN maet
the Ordinance aud Judiciary Committee trom
the CITY Council Tor the purpose of franz
ing an ordinance satisfactory to all Tna
chairman expressed himself as satisfied with
our work. yet, when the matter came mn in
the Council, be voted against its adontion
Our board ie that IL had been trified with
The statement was made by a delegate from
Santa Clara County at our late health con.
i'll san Francisco that
worth third more IN that county han they
were before they had been pronounced free
from tuberculosis. The claim is made nv
some OF our Oakland dairymen that since
they have compiled with the requirements of
the board the increased demand for milk il
more than they are able to supply. Our board
ant1cip Led this result ana has encouraged
tne dai-ymen by enrolling those VINO have
subjected their herds to the tuberculosis test
and mas published their names for the public
benefit The names have been appended TO a
circular, Il 900 OF which have been distri-
buted throug.. he public and private schools.
1t Will be to the advantage OF the dairymen
to stop this agitation by aiding the health
authorities in securing pure milk When
they are In position TO satisfy the peop!e
that they furnish nothing but a pure artic
there Will be an increased demand for in
There are many people who have Quit the use
OF milk for me reason that they are afraid o.
it. II is well they should be- for tuberculosis
is alarming in its prevalence, aud milk from
tuberculous cows has its share in producing
it Just think of i'll One out OF every six
of those who die are victims of some form OF
tube rculosis. The same proportion diving of
smallpo cholera would create q panic
among the people.