The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1901-12-27

appropriate legislation have ready their
J 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. TINS committee is COM
posed of DR.. ]. A. Crisler, chairman;
Dr. X. e. Jones and Dr. E. H. Martin.
The first statement gives food for
| thought" in that it 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 posi-
tionto have handled the same. And fur
Their, much more money was expended
by the different counties in their efforts
to meet the emergencies than would have
been necessary for the more perfect
handling of the epidemic by the State
Board of Health
The recommendation embodied in
Section 2, 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 Gar 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 high-class dairy,
and being hurried turned three-quar-
its quantity in custard, and froze it
at once. Upon serving it for dinner, it
was discovered that the cream ca
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
ii 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 tin the large |
cities) was due directly to the use of |
adulterated milk. There was equal |
dishonesty displayed in meats and |
other foods with dreadful resuIts) , !
until the different cities and States |
took matters in their own hands. Now,
there are few States (and probably nc
large citieS) without these stringent |
pure food" laws. The official inspec-
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 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
such States as our own Careless of
The health of its people, with adulter-
lted goods, for which we pay as much
Is if they were pure.
The committee suggests, thirdly,
The collection and registration of
vital, mortuary and morbidity stats
les; for without these we are unable ]
o answer the many questions pertain
ng to the health and death-rate of our
,reat State by insurance companies ]
and all others who come {
o invest and help build up this great
Fourth, that we should have a 6
identical and archaeological labora. q
ory, in order that the physicians of !
he State may have specimens of
sputum and other Patio. :
ogical products examined, and that
itizens may have drinking water, D