New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-06
THE QUALITY OF MILK.
GREATER CARE NEEDED-A SYSTEM OF
LICENSED DIARIES. ADVOCATED.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: was pleased TO read your timely editorial
on milk in recent issue. There is subject
more in need OF having public attention drawn to
it than the quality and purity Of milk supply
The people of our cities protected IN some
measure by the enforcement OF Ia requiring
certain percentage of solids be shown by the
actometer test; but people in most suburban local
tiles have not even this amount OF protection, and
all without any guarantee that the milk they
is free from disease germs
Milk unlike most other kinds Of merchandise is
not sold the consumer at a prize regulated by
its quality Milk considered milk. matter
what may be the percentage Of solids II contains.
The solids may be low as L per cent, or as
high as 16 per cent and yet the price is the same
per quart This is manifestly absurd and obtains
principally because milk is considered by the gen
ercI public a beverage and not solid food
which it really is and consequently. valuable in &C
cordance with the of solids il contains and
not on OF the water. If a milk producer
get his milk up to grade just nigh enough TO
pass the legal requirement, it is enough for him.
as no matter how much higher in quality IL may
be- it does not generally command any high price
that there is inducement for him 70 raise the
quality OF his product by improving his herd. This
will continue be until the general public are
taught value milk for the amount of solids il
contains, and insist on having IT'S price fixed by its
But there is another aspect Of the milk question
which is OF far more serious tmport-vz its purity,
or freedom from disease germs and dirt Milk con-
sumerS do not know how healthy or otherwise the
may be which supply them or how careful or
careless the methods of the dairyman. And here
again. the quality of milk is not appreciated be-
cause not known. In other ways extraordinary
precautions are taken TO prevent the spread Of dis
ease, while one Of the best mediums for its pro-
pagatiOn ana dissemina ton is left almost unguard
ed We careful in regard to ventilation plumb
ing and other sanitary affairs, throw safeguards
around the sale of drugs. etc, and thsn open our
doors wide TO of the most dangerous diseases
by leaving the sources of milk supply almost
entirely unmatched and uncontrolled
Now what is necessary for the protection Of the
public in this respect is the licensing of all dairy
No ought be allowed produce milk
for public sale unless he has obtained license
from the proper authorities, and has thus placed
his herd, stables and methods of handling the milk
product under the regulation and control OF the
State health authorities, and milk and butter from
such licensed diaries only should be allowed be
sold IN towns and cities creameries. This
is the only way in which TO properly project the
public from the serious consequences of using
wholesome milk. in view OF the ignorance and
lessness Of many milk producers. 1t would also
restore a somewhat shaken public confidence IN
dairy products and greatly increase their con-
sumption 20 the mutual benefit of the consumers
and the dairy farmers But all this can be
brought about only by the thorough ventilation OF
the subject in our influential press. r NJ G
New-YOrk, May IS, 1900.