The Savannah morning news., 1900-11-24
DEATHS DUE TO IMPURE MILK.
Dr. drummer Approves the Plan OF
Municipal sterilization Plants.

drummer ANINNNNN wv W
Municipal sterilization Plants.
The Morning News Is In receipt OF
circular letter from Mr.. Nathan straus.
Wv Yorks wcll-known phllanthropist IN
which he strongly advocates municipal
ownership OF plants for the Pas
,syr.zation Or sterilization OF milk
the use OF infants Mr.
s,raus relates his own experience m
tbe ss,abiishmen, and operation OF ster-
uiz,tion plant Cor the benefit OF the poor
children OF the city and gives some start
ling figures. showing the great saving IN
infant mortality effected thereby.
Mayor Myers ana Health Omcer Brun-
,sr we're shown Nir. straus letter yestcr-
5,v ana asked their opinion OF the idea
advocated by him Both spoke approving
!, of SIR straus work az a philauthropist
bu. said they could not express an opln-
ion on the subject OF municipal ownership
Of d sterilization plant without further
consideration.
Tho following extracts. taken from Mr.
sfr4ls. circular letter. will be Of interest
a. parents generally:
IflaffIAn OF AltuNNE AANtE nAf NNftA-
le.-ly sacrificed annually by impure milk
No system OF milk test or examination
,,oy, Iu operation or capable OF being gen
eraHt applied. Is sufhcent 10 protect the
ut.. u Young children against che noX-
toas germs present in a large portion Of
81. 81 Is delivered la It's natural state in
cities DR. Shakespeare. Of Philadelphia,
an eminent authority states that nearly,
If 40, .uitc, one-half the deaths In cities
IN This country are due 10 that class Of
disco which are known TO be preventa-
be chief among these preventable dis
ease are he dlarrhoeal disturbances Of
vounF children. aud the prime agent In
m production OF these ls impure milk
"'raa state Of affairs was brought so my
attention lu 1892. After making thor
ouea domination OF the subject aud
tak.ur counsel with physicians at home
and SOME who were accepted ns autbori-
ties ln Europe. l began TO experiment as
20 what could be done to bring absolutely
plre milk. and milk fitted for infant con-
sumption. within the reach OF those who
needed &C. particularly the poor found
medical testimony absolutely unanimous
~ 10 the requirement Of perfect steriliza-
ton tPasteurization) FOR all milk intend
Ell for food in cities. / accordingly es-
tahhshed a sterinzing laboratory. and be-
gan fhe dispensing OF pure milk, both In
booth ln one Of the most thickly popu-
lated districts OF this city The system Of
sterilization adopted was that OF Or.
Rowland q Freeman Of New York. This
system combines the preservation Of the
nutrltive qualities OF the milk and the
complete destruction OF al noxious germs.
This work was begun IN 1892 when a.
900 bottles were distributed. ana each sue
coeding year enlarged ana widened in
scope. until the present year. up 20 date.
6G.671 bottles have been dispensed and
Si2.91i glasses Of milk drank on the prem
Uses Its results can be more eloquently
told by the statistics OF the heath depart
ment than by any words In my vocabu-
larry The table gives the population.
deaths and death rate OF children under
i've years Of age. and shows that the
death rate per thousand was gradually
decreased from e65 in 1891 60 SIS In the
year just passed
Statistics Of tho deaths and death rate
FOR the three hottest months OF the year.
june July and August. when the peril
20 child life Is greatest. and consequent
ly. the distribution OF sterilized milk the
rgost demonstrate moro convincingly
a. what degree the culpable sacrifice Of
infant life may be arrested. The follow
ing table showes tho deaths and death
~ OF children under years OF age
~ he month Of June. July and August: