The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-12-28

etaNS SaA
ing last May to present to the Legis'
lature the facts in regard to contag-
ious and infectious diseases and urge
appropriate Legislation, have ready their
report, have urged the Governor to
embody in his report to the incom'
ing Legislature certain recommends
lions of Importance to the health OF
the public. THIS committee is com'
posed Of DR.. ]. A. Crisler, chairman;
DR.. R. E. Jones and DIR. E. H. Martin.
The first statement gives food for
thought" in that 1t states facts as fol-
lows:
The management of the late epidem-
ic of smallpox by the county boards OF
supervisors was ineffective, and more
lives were lost than would have been
had the Board of Health been in a posi-
ton to nave handled the same. And fur.
Their, much more money was expended
by the different counties in their efforts
to meet the emergencies than would ave
been necessary for the more perfect
handling Of the epidemic by the State
Board of Health.
The recommendation embodied In
Section Q, viz, the inspection Of milk,
meats and food in all sections Of the
State wherever there may be reason
to suspect that diseases are produced
by the same, is of the most importance
to the health Of our people, particular.
ly the children. 1t would amaze and
shock the consumers of some Of the
milk sold by Mississippi diaries, If
they could know how far it is from
pure. Not only is much Of it cared
for and sold by ignorant (far from
cleanly) negroes, but the COWS are
quartered in unsanitary stables, and
1t Is a too common practice to adulter.
ate the milk and to preserve it, and
other dairy products, with "preserva.
line The writer purchased cream
last summer from a high-class dairy,
and being hurried turned three-quar.
tiers of it into a freezer, with double
its quantity in custarG, and froze il
at once. Upon serving it for dinner, il
was discovered that the cream CD
was so strong with Something that
was not cream, as to render it unfit
for use. A test of the cream that was
left in the pitcher betrayed the same
peculiar taste, only much stronger.
More than that, despite the extreme
heat, that cream had not soured when
lC was thrown out, after twenty-four
hours. 1t was discovered later
through an Innocent dairy servant
that de boss put too much preserves
in, dat mo'nin'." Statistics have prov.
en- that an appalling number OF
deaths among infants TN the large
%cities) was due directly to the use Of
adulterated milk. There was equal
dishonesty displayed in meats and
other foods with dreadful results),
until the different cities and States
took matters in their own hands. Now.
there are few States (and probably no
large cities) without these stringent
pure food" laws. The official inspeG.
tors have authority to stop any milk
cart, anywhere, at any time, and de.
mand samples for tests. If found i'm.
pure, the dealer is tried, and usually
heavily fined. The same rule applies
to meat, oil-everything, in fact, that
goes to feed the human body. So strin.
gent are the laws in some States, and
so careful are the examinations of all
foods, that it is a well known fact that
many OF the great manufacturers of
yeast powders, jams, jellies. ETC.,
dealers in flour, butter, lard, oil. etc.
put up pure goods for these States and
cities, in order that they may compete
with other firms whose goods have
been examined, admitted and given
the inspectors permit to enter his
State or city. These same dealers flood
States as our own Careless of
the health of its people, with adulter.
ated goods, for which we pay as much
as If they were pure.
The committee suggests. thirdly.
The collection and registration of
Vltal, mortuary and %morbidity Stats
tics; for without these we are unable
to answer the many questions pertain.
ing to the health and death-rate of our
great State by insurance companies.
corporations and all others who come
invest and help build up this great
commonwealth"
Fourth, that we should have a
chemical and archaeological labora.
in order that the physicians of
the State may have specimens of
~tuberculous sputum and other patho.
logical products examined, and that
may have drinking water
milk and foods tested for Impurities
whenever deemed necessary. Believ.
ing, as we do, that by this means con.
sumption. typhoid fever and manv
infectious diseases could be ma
terially lessened.
Firth, we suggest that a law be made
requiring all physicians in the
State to make monthly reports to tbe
chief county health officers. of the con-.
and fnfpctiouc d,co