The suburban citizen., 1901-08-17
A MODEL DAIRY.
The Proprietor Not Afraid Of In
SpeCtOrS or Health Office Rules,
CATTLE THAT ARE WELL FED
Well Housed and GroOmed With as
Iuch Care as Race hOrses--
Interesting Pen Picture.

There can be no doubt that the ex-
ctement in dairy circles stirred up by
the vigilance of Dr. Woodward during
the past two weeks viii result to the
benefit OF the milk consumers of the
city and District 1t is not possible
to say how many OF those against whom
the charge OF lacteal adulteration has
been preferred are guilty, but it is quite
probable to paraphrase popular pro-
verb, that there is likely to be some
fire concealed behind so large a volume
OF smoke Nevertheless, it can not be
doubted that there are scores Of reliable
darymen who do business in the city,
and it is also true that some of them
have been uniustly suspected during the
past fortnight OF doctorng the milk
which they dispensed 1t would be
strange, indeed if this were not the
case, for the reason that the crooked
ness OF few individuals engaged in the
sale OF indispensable food products sell
dom fails to cast a shadow OF suspicion
upon good and bad alike. This is es-
pecially true when man who has
borne an unblemished reputation as
dealer, no matter what the article he
handles may be- is called upon to an
swer the serious charge Of employing
questionable means ior the Dreserya
ton OF his stock in trade. People at
once begin to ask themselves the ques-
ton, If we can't trust him whom can
we trust? And so it happens that the
mos. upright men are suspected OF
wrong doing, their sales fall off and
they are out OF pocket many dollars.
The efforts Of Dr. Woodward to pre-
vent the sale OF milk which has been
subjected to preservative treatment, or
which. as they say in Virginia, has
been obtained from the BLACK cow
which, OF course, means the pump, will
undoubtedly elicit the approval and sup
port OF the milk consumers OF the city
and District. 1t can not be denied
that the use Of formaldehyde is dan
gerous-that it has caused sickness, and
sometimes death, in hundreds OF
homes. The same thing may be SAID
of other devices resorted to by un-
scrupulous darymen, and the worst OF
it is that in numerous cases the suffer
ers have been poor people, who with
out being aware OF the presence OF a |
deadly drug, gave the milk to their
little ones in the belief that they we're
them with wholesome food, /
1t is fact that many intelligent
men do not know that formaldehyde is
the preservative agent used by under
takers for embalming dead bodies.
Placed in milk it prevents decomposi-
ton. thus relieving the dairyman OF the
care required in order to deliver un-
and wholesome milk to his
customers. While, however, it is DR..
Woodwards duty to detect and punish
men who employ the drug for rhis pur-
pose. he should instruct his subordin-
ates 10 be sure that they are right be-
lore proceeding to file charges against
dairymen who have previously borne
a fair reputation.
1t is not probable that the Health
Department will succeed very soon IN
driving out OF the milk business the
men engaged in 1t, but
+ is certain that no pains will be spared
Iv Dr.. Woodward to accomplish that
md. If Congress can be prevailed upon
10 aid him by enacting proper laws
A GOOD deal has already been done TO
protect honest dairymen, Tor It is 10
De assumed that honest dealers are as
much interested in ridding the business
If men who drug and water their mix
IS are the people who unknowlhgly
,onsume it. But Congress has not yet
zone lar enough. The next step IN
he direction OF statutory protection
hou.d be a long and sure one ana
hould provide forms of punishment!
or the watering and adulterauon OF
milk far more severe than those when
t is now in the power OF the Health
Department 10 intlict This however,
hould be done without imposing hard
hips upon respectable and trustworthy
ealcrs
For the present an excellent plan
;ould be to establish a model ior the
airymcn who do business in the city
nd District to follow There are many