Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-21

in its various forms Some of these germs
grow rapidly in milk without producing
any visible effect. The germs of typhoid
fever, tuberculosis and diphtheria may thus
crow and be consumed with the milk with
out our knowledge Cholera germs will
readily grow in milk when once introduced.
and there have been cases of cholera def
ni:e.y traced to milk. while among the
lower animals the swine plague has been
attributed to hogs feeding on infected milk
Some of the common putrefactive bacteria
give rise to poisonS while growing in this
fluid. These poisons called ptomaincs.
the most commonly known being tyrotoxi-
con. The poisoning from this source is
peclally common in eating cheese thus in
fected. while there are numerous instances
on record in which scores of people have
been made dangerously sick from eating
ice cream and drinking mi similarly at
fected In this connection it may be well
to state that it is generally conceded that
the ultimate source of the numerous bac-
terra which find their way into the milk
Is either the earth, air or water. and that
1t is not possible for them to succeed in
getting through the healthy mammary
gland of the COW.
There are however. four methods By
which this contamination may be accom-
plished: ID Some of them get into the mix
from the hands of the mixer or from the
Duct of the milk gland. C9 Some of them
may be added with the water used in dilut-
ing the milk, particularly the germs of
typhoid fever and cholera. Gs) Some may
get in from the air of the stable. when
there is not proper ventilation. "a From
the germs which remain in the milk YES
sells when not properly cleaned. If the
COW is diseased. then it becomes different
matter. and particularly if the gland is in
any way affected, for in such cases there
is no question but that the milk may con-
tain the germs Of disease when first drawn.
Milk from tuberculous animal would I'M
doubtedly contain the germs Of tubercu-
loSiS and 1t is in this way that these germs
are usually transmitted to the milk.
Adulteration Largely Lessened.
my first work in this department de-
veloped the fact that pretty much all of the
milk sold in the District was either
SKINNED, watered or colored, or both. or
all three, according to the motives of dairy
men. In fact there was practically none
of 1t that could be called pure. nor was
there any practical law whereby these spe-
cies of fraud could be prevented. Today.
however we have ample laws so far as
they relate to the intentional adulteration
of milk, with the result that this class of
adulteration has been largely done away
with, although it is still practiced to some
extent in the District today.
'The second class of adulteration men
toned. or the unintentional. must be at
tributed largely to ignorance. carelessness
or lack of proper facilities for handling the
milk on the part of the producer re-
taller.
TT is, of course, essential that none but
pure water should be used about the dairy
farmland the question of its purity should
not be left to the dairyman himself. but
should be certified to by this department.
and should be one of the conditions upon
which a permit to ship milk into the Dis
trict should depend. To the present time
something like 40 eoidemics of typhoid
fever have been traced to polluted milk,
Ito hoo, fr11
the history of typhoid fever cases in the
District to any great extent, yet such an
alyses as I have made of the waters from
the dairy farms in the District lead me to
the opinion that this is at least one of the
important sources of typhoid fever here,
which opinion is Strengthened by my knowl-
edge of some of the dairy farms supplying
milk to the people of the District. In one
instance 1 took sample of water from a
well located in cow yard which sample
was full of living animalculae visible to the
naked eye. l was informed that that water
was used for washing the cans and bottles
and for supplying the cattle with drinking
water. Such water was hardly worthy of
the name of water, and l do not believe
that any animal would drink such stuff
except under force of circumstances, and
yet this water was used for washing. if .le
term could be so used. the cans and appli-
ances connected with the dairy.
Acidity of Milk.
Another important subject connected
with our milk supply" Mr.. Hird says "is
that Of its acidfty, or the practice of selling
the same in a semi-sour condition. Such
milk is undoubtedly detrimental to infants
and invalids and it's sale should therefore
be prohibited.
The question Of sterilization is discussed
in the report at length.
DIR. Turner'S Report.
A second report submitted by the health
officer was that of DIR. J. P. Turner, the
District inspector of live stock and dairy
farms, who stated the conditions existing
on those dairy farms supplying milk to the
District inspected by him. These include
all those dairy farms in the District and in
such adjacent parts of Maryland and Vir-
gfnia as can be reached with a horse and
wagon. When epidemic diseases have been
reported, states the inspector, inspection at
places where there was no railroad trans
portatfon have been necessary, which re-
quired the hiring of teams
There are at present. states DIR. Turner,
135 farms in the District. producing about
1900 gallons of milk daily. which are in
spected regularly and Systematically, but
not as frequently as is desirable; some of
them receiving monthly inspection others
bi-monthly depending largely on their To-
cation and proximity to other farms. In
Maryland and Virginia there are. approx
imately, 600 dairy farms, shipping 10000
gallons Of milk daily to Washington. of
which $50 farms. producing 2,OOo gallons or
milk daily. have been inspected at irregular
during the past year.
Those Not Inspected.
The milk supplied to Washington from
farms as yet uninspected amounts to two
thirds of the entire product. and comes by
the Baltimore and Ohio and Southern rail-
road companies. the Baltimore and Ohio
transporting about $500 gallons of milk
daily from Frederick Md. and intermedi-
ate points, and from Boyd's station and in
termediate points; and the Southern rail-
road shipping about the same amount daily
$500 gallons) from Somerset. Va, and in
termediate points, and from Round Hill,
Va. and intermediate points.
The inspection, explains DR.. Turner, in
cludes:
First-A physical examination of the cows
to ascertain their general condition, look
ing particularly for any disease which might
be communicated by the milk. such as tu-
berculosis (consumption) or actimomycosis
FUNNY iaWl Each cow iS rni1ka5 and he