The Republican journal., 1900-08-16
MILK INSPECTORS REPORT.

Following is the report of DR.. W. L.
West, V. S., Inspector of Milk, as presented
to and accepted by the City Govern Dent at
the August meeting:
To the Mavor and Aldermen of the City
OF Belfast, Gentlemen:
L beg leave to submit my report as lnSpec-
tor of Milk for the year ending Aug. I, 1900.
The milk and allied products of Belfast
are furnished by about 800 cows worth 500
600 There is sold in Belfast every day in
the year 1850 quarts Of milk. which in
year makes total of 4j6.250 quarts, worth
S2l,315.0o, and with the business of the
OF SS0.0oo.O0 Twenty-eight persons have
registered at my office as dealers in milk,
twelve of whom deliver from carts three
markets sell milk, there is one creamery,
ana the remainder are residents who keep
from one to three cows and sell milk from
their lhomes
Dur ng the year I have made 1856 nspec-
tons, l30 of which have been chemical tests
OF milk procured from carts both with and
without the knowledge, from jars and cans
after they were delivered to consumers,
from markets, and directly from the cows,
mllked by myself, and in each case partlcu-
lar care has Deen taken to eliminate the pos,
slblllty of fraud
The remaining IS examinations were
made at the milk farms at various times
during the year and each visit included
investigation of the food and water supply,
manner of ventilation and drainage, phys
lcal examination of each cow, of the method
OF cooling, canning or bottling the milk, con-
dltlon of the carts, cleanliness, etc The
law requires that milk exposed for sale
shall contain three per cent of butter fat
and twelve per cent of total solids. | have
use1 principally in making my tests the
Babcock test and the Quevenne lactometer,
which are sufficiently ,curate for all prac-
tlcal purposes. But in a few instances |
have used the Werner -Schinid method The
following table shows the result of 13Otests:
Number of Per cent. of Specific
Samples butter fat. gravity.
" /; to 1870
- 4to4.5 1922
4.5to5 . 1885
less than 5 1928
No evidence of adulteration has been
found, nor do | believe any exists.
While studying in Chicago last winter !
hau abundant opportunity of testing the
milk sold there, and Belfast is to be con-
graduated upon the difference which exists
and which is all in our favor.
of the % farm visits | can speak very
highly, as this being my third year of max
ing them 1t is plain to be seen that the con-
stant supervision and directions are having
the desired effect as evidenced by the feeling
OF emulation which exists among the milk
producers, SHOWN by better bred. better fed
cleaner COWS, more nygienic stlbles neater
milk rooms, aud more modern, up-to-date
methods of caring for the product.
Nlne COWS Eoye been permanently eXpell-
| Ell from the milk herds as unfit for use. No
contagious disease has been found among
the cows or in the families of the mill1men
y few complaints have bC Ell made to me by
people who thought they We're not receiving
81 ffclent amount of cream, but all proved
satlSfa tory after close investigation.
There is no food which is so constantly
used IN an uncooked ST te, and which is 50
freely ted to ii ants and invalids. as milk,
neither is there any article of food which
SO susceptible of cont2 -nination from out
slde influences, and it requires constant
care and scientific Watcl fulneSs to keep
the supply in pure and wholesome condl-
ton.
! would suggest that your honorable body
ke some measures towards compelling the
Use OF uniform measure and the exclusive
use OF g'asS containers, thereby ubvatir {"
Two sources OF trouble.
| Will say in closing that the mill1men
nave been exceedingly ourt Gus to me and
have taken my advice and folio we'd my sro-
gestlons as to newer and better methods
Respectfully submitted
W. l.. West,
lnsp ctor.