The evening times., 1900-05-21
THB LOCAL milk SUPPLY
The Commissioners Reply to a
Congressional Resolution.
Report From the Health Omccr
and One From the Inspector of
Live stock and Dairy Farms-Rec-
concentrations Made by Them for
the Improvement of the Service.

The Commissioners recently received
from the President OF the Senate a resolu-
ton Of enquiry passed by that body rela-
tive TO the sanitary condition of the milk
supply of the District. The resolution
was as follows:
Resolved, That the Commissioners of
the District of Columbia be directed TO
furnish the Senate with report fron the
inspector OF Dairy Products, showing the
quality ana condition OF milk and cream
sold in the District OF Columbia. and
whether The same contain any foreign Sub
stances deleterious to health. and II So
giving description of such substances, and
what legislation is necessary to remedy
the evil
In reply to the resolution the Commits
sioners have now sent to the President OF
the Senate formal report from the Health
Omcer Of the District. accompanied with
other reports from the Inspector of Live
Stock and Dairy Farms and from the In
spector OF Dairy Products The COmmis-
sioners say in their letter that the recon-
mendations OF the Health Officer meet with
their approval, and they transmit with the
several reports bill Ito regulate the pro-
duction and sale OF milk and cream in and
For the District. Of Columbia and for other
purposes"
In his report to the Commissioners DR..
William c. Woodward. the Health Officer
says that in view of the fact that the du
ties OF the Inspector Of Dairy Products are
not such Rs TO acquaint him personally
with the condition OF the cattle from which
our milk supply comes, nor With the con-
dition Of the premises on which such cat
tie are kept he has caused q report 10 be
prepared by the Inspector Of Dairy Farms.
who has immediate supervision OF such
matters. and forward il herewith fer trans
mission TO the honorable Senate, Il such
action be deemed proper. Continuing Dr.
Woodward says:
u have prepared. and submit herewith
a draft OF q bill which N ny judgment
will. If enacted. correct all defects in ex-
isting -. II is impracticable at the pres
ent THE 10 point out all OF the changes
which this measure embOdies. but those
which are Of greatest importance are. the
requirement that milk be Kept al a proper
temperature. below 80 degrees Fahrenheit
prior 10 sale; the provision for the regis
tration, az the request Of the owners, Of
tubercuiiu tested herds, and tie prOvis-
ion OF means whereby the shipment Of
milk and cream into the District from IN
authorized places can be efectually pre-
vented.
Il submit also a draft OF an auxiliary
measure requiring ali cases OF typhoid fe-
yer 10 be report TO the Health Department.
Typhoid fever is one Of the diseases which
is spread at times through a contaminated
milk supply. and the only efficient method
Of determining when the milk from any
particular dealer has been contaminated is
by having a record Of all cases OF typhoid
fever which occur in the District ard
charging each -such case tentatively
against The dairy from which the milk used
BY the patient prior TO his Illness. was de-
rived. II this be done the occurrence Of an
unusual number OF cases among the Gus
toners OF a particular dealer is readily de-
tected, and steps can be taken TO discover
whether such milk supply be in fact con-
taminated- A similar method is already il
vogue with reference 20 other no;ifable
disease. and has enabled the Health De-
partnent 10 check two outbreaks CT scarlet
fever.
But the present unsatisfactory condi-
tion Of our milk supply is not due entirely
10 defects in existing Law; an insufficient
force Of inspectors is 10 a considerable ex-
tent responsible for the trouble. Il IS
manifestly impossible for one veterinary
surgeon 10 supervise all OF the dairy arms
from which our milk supply is derived. and
70 inspect, too. ali live stock intended for
slaughter, Nor can one chemist maintain
an efficient control over the condition &C
milk and cream as it reaches our market
while at the same time he is required TO
see that all sorts OF foods and drugs are Up
/ TO statutory requirements that water from
/ public and private wells is not dangerous
/ TO health, whether samples of liquors sub
mItted by the Police Department are Sr are
/ not intoxicating. and whether viSceria sub
mitted by the Coroner do or do not con-
I tain poison To remedy existing condi-
tions more inspectors are needed Is much
, as more law Indeed, without the former
! the latter can effect but little improve
msnt, while a sufficient force OF inspectors
| could DO much even under the law nov in
force
For the efficient enforcement Of either
/ the present or the proposed law, the fol
I lowing inspection force Is necessary. in ad-
\ dition 10 that now available: One inspec-
! tor, vetrinary surgeon. TO supervise the
| inspection OF live stock and dairy farms