The Portland daily press., 1900-03-26
What DR.. Cummings Of the Health
Board Says.
Allegations That Doc
tored Milk is Sold.
Something Which Interests the
Public Generally.

An effort will be made BY some Of the
ply sioians Of the city TO have the city
council grant an appropriation this year
for the establishment OF q milk inspec-
ti1n 10 Portland. 1t IL estimated that
the cost OF this milk Inspection with the
fitting up Of . laboratory will be about
81, 600 or $3.50. 1t 10 alleged that some
Of the milk usn who sell this product
in Portland use preventative chemicals
and other chemicals to give the milk the
appearance Of. being very rich and Of CON-
tanning lots Of cream, when, rs q matter
OF fact, 10 does not contain any orea m,
and but for the prsssrvative chemicals
would soon turn sour. The trouble with
tie prsssrvative chemicals is that Ii does
not allow Of the decay Of the milk to be
discovered by persons who are not ia
miliar with the use of this chemical mat
ter and this milk is often In the I'D :
vancsd stages of decomposition before Ii
10 given 10 sick people and infants Tor
food.
DR.. @. W. Cummings OF the board Of
health IL very active In his efforts to have
such an ordinanos passed as will req uire
the inspection OF all milk sold In this city
and will prevent the use OF pressrvative
chemicals or other chemicals In 10. DIR.
Cummings told a TIMES reporter on
Saturday that he had NO doubt but many
deaths Of infants had been trAosd directly
to these chemicals In the milk which Is
sold In Portland. He said that much OF
this milk 10 brought long distance and
is often we'll advanced In decomposition
before 1t reaches town. With che pEsssr-
vatiye chemical 10 IL not Immediately
noticeable, and many children are given
this kind Of milk for food and oan get
no other.
DIR. Cummings argues. and tho Mayor
and the committee on estimates, who
have examined into the matter concur
with him, that 10 IL about time that
this sort Of thing was put an end 10 in
Portland. Ties, milk men mean no harm
and would not sell their milk thus treat
cd II they fully realized all the dangers
involved In suoh trnfio to the lives Of
their customers They ars told by the
concerns which have the preservaline and
Tue CEoeHa pkOuuoi18 onshuionAe w noAh
that they are harmless, but to weak
and sick child these chemicals act like
poison and this IL why the mortality
among children is so large.
ALT IL estimated that 10 will cost four or
i've hundred dollars to fit mp iabora-
tory TO the proper Analysis Of this milk
and IL will also require man who is an
expert In this work to look after 1t. He
must be man who, not only thorough
ly understands his business, but who
can 90 on the stand In court and testify
as to tho chemical analysis of the milk
In an intelligent manner.
Last year an ordinance covering the
inspection Of milk was passed by the
common council, but never Was heard
from after 1t got into the board Of alder
men. This year q similar ordinAn ce will
be brought forward and an appropria-
ton Of 81, 500 will be asked for to help
Garry out the requirements Of the milk
inspection. 1t would be a wiss thing II
all those who believe In such measure
which has been for Its purpose the protse-
ton OF the children and invalids OF this
city should take the trouble to inform
their representatives In the city council
that they would like to see 1t enacted and
60 into effect before the warm weather
comes.