New-York tribune., 1901-09-01
FOR 4 PURE MILK SUPPLY.
SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS BEING MADE TO OBJ
TAIN THE MOST HEALTHFUL PRODUCT.

SCIENTIFIC EFFORTS BEING MADE TO OBJ
TAIN THE MOST HEALTHFUL PRODUCT.
Long ago the fastidious world hardened itself
10 the thought of eating it's destined peck OF
dirt" and fancied that this the that
would befall. When the germ theory appeared. the
hitherto simple. enjoyable. task of nourish-
ing the body took many dangers that IL
seemed almost IKE suicide TO attempt TO appease
ones hunger. But the world has grown
toned TO germs. and has begun assume that
they everywhere and must be taken rs they
Familiarity has bred certain amount Of
contempt But when the Health Department In
forms the citizens Of New-York that they may be-
drinking milk-even II It is newly delivered-that
is fortyeight hours old and contains possibly
5000 90 bacteria per cubic centinetre the most
hardened fatalist opens his eyes. Such milk
that is the best milk. truly. II is what is
purchased by those who live under the most un-
sanitary conditions who have rule the larg-
est families. who not able to take the children
away from the city in the summer (the season. Of
course when most bacteria are found In nll' 'k) and
who are, therefore. most likely TO be harmed by It.
The Investigations of DR.. Park. assistant direc-
tor of the Research Laboratory of the Board of
Health, made a short time ago, proved conclusively
that the milk sold in this city is far less pure
than It might easily be. His investigation was not
concerned with adulteration, but had to do with
alleged pure milk OF all grades. In the tene-
ment house districts in warm weather the num-
Der OF bacteria in milk is appalling and boiling it,
which is the common practice of tenement house
dwellers. does not do away with the poison al
though il does prevent the further multiplication
OF germs.
All this may be prevented by proper care-or II
not all of it, at least enough of II milk
for ordinary babies. But in connection with the
pure milk legislation the Department of Health
wishes TO determine with some eXactness what ef
feet different grades of milk have the babies
who drink it There were reasons why the city
/ could hardly undertake the investigation, yet Dr.
Park and others concerned felt that the subject
should be further pursued. When Mr.. Rockefeller
announced that he would give $50 900 annually for
scientific investigation, IL was suggested TO the
trustees that a part of it should so toward deter
mining so far as possible the connection between
the milk supply and the health OF tenement house
babies. The of 5000 appropriated. and
the services of an inspector, to visit dairy farms
OF a chemist TO analyZe specimens of milk and
clans. many of them volunteers taking part
in the investigation by looking after the of a
certain number of ordinarily healthy babies who
are fed on the grade of milk continually
Mix from model farms is furnished free of charge
for the purpose Of comparing such babies drink
II with those whose source of nourishment is the
Il not always possible TO tell where the fault
lay, whether with the mothers ignorance or the
miIlSs impurity. Now, with all these physicians
watching there will be doubt about the chd's
easily laid at the right door. The milk is care
/ fully traced. and when the summer IS the
inspector who has visited the farms. then that OF
the chemist who has anaIyzed the milk. and final
J ly that of the doctor who has been watching the
child's condition Even with all this mistakes
1 might occur. and somebody something might be
wrongly blamed; a large number of babies are
4 being watched-no less than four hundred When
all the results are brought together II will be pos
sible formulate pretty accurately the results OF
/ impure milk supply