The Washington times., 1902-10-21
CITY MILK SUPPLY
A CONSTANT MENACE
DR.. K ober Favors Legislation
on This Subject.
VEHICLE OF coN1Ae'oN
Sample Examined Shows More Bac-
terra Than Same Quantity of
Sewage Water.

In support of Senator Gallinger's bill
to regulate the production and sale OF
milk and cream in the District of CO.
lumbia, DR.. George NJ Kober. chairman
District Medical Society, and chairman
Of the committee on public health of the
Civic Center. has issued a pamphlet en-
titled Milk in Relation to Public
Health"
Following the argument for the enact
ment of the bill into law numerous
statements are given showing the inti-
mate relation of the milk supply to pub
lie health everywhere. DR.. Kober has
been engaged in the study of this ques-
tion for many years. and, In connection
with DR.. S. C. Busey. directed attention
to the impure milk supply of the Dis
trict as early as 1895. He regards the
production of pure milk as the most
important problem which confronts the
sanitarian.
Need of Legislation.
1T is highly desirable says DR..
Kober. that some uniform legislation,
preferably a national pure food law, be
enacted to regulate the production and
sale of this universal article of food.
for. as it is now, milk consumed in this
city, or in other large cities, may be
produced In number of States over
which of course the local authorities
have no jurisdiction.
at is remarkable fact that every
attempt to improve the purity Of this in
valuable article of food. especially for
infants, children. invalids, the sick, and
convalescents, should, be promptly op
posed by the milk industry, which con-
stitutes a strong spoke In the CONNER
cial wheel, and evidently considers it
meddlesome interference with their
trade.
These men evidently do not know.
and cannot know. that such hydraheaded
diseases as cholera infantum, scarlet
fever, and diphtheria have been dis
seminated in the milk supply; that ty-
phoid fever epidemics have been thus
caused. and that milk may be the vehi-
Gle of the germs Of tuberculosis and
other Infectious diseases and morbifc
agents.
Result of Ignorance.
DR.. Kober further says that in the
majority OF cases the marked indiffer-
ence to public health shown BY dairy
men is the result of ignorance He be-
legal supervision.
OF tests of milk made in the District,
1t is said that the work of Prof. Hird.
the chemist of the Health Office, showed
that 249 of 798 samples contained below
8 per cent of fat. Most of the samples
OF their richness. Mechanically pure
milk is free from sediment and chemi-
cally pure milk contains the normal con-
stituency OF fat. sugar, proteids and
mineral salts. The dangers from ab- |
normal odor, taste and consistency are
pointed out.
An Alarming State.
.Dr. Turner. the dairy inspector OF |
the District, during the fiscal year end
ing June 30, 1899. examined bacteriolog- |
ically III different samples of our
market milk" continues DR.. Kober. |
land found only 21 of the III samples
to contain less than 10000 per cubic
centimeter; indeed some of the samples
showed a higher number Of bacteria
than the sewage water of the city,
which statement. he adds. SIS not pleas
ant TO ponder over
According to DR.. Kober. milk may be
morbffc as the product of a diseased
animal or may acquire infective prop
critics after it leaves the udder The
germs will not only live but multiply in
the fluid. The danger of diseases being
through dairy employees who
have been nursing the sick is pointed
out. He says: ITO indicate the value of
milk inspection to the health of the
community, may say that in 1899 there
were not less than 451 deaths In this
city from diarrheal diseases OF children
under five years, while in 1898, when the
Inspections extended over only about
,ne- third OF the source Of our milk sup
,iy, the number of deaths from the same
,ause was but 231, showing decrease of
about so per cent
Should Be Registered.
Dr. Kober thinks the dealers should |
De registered and be required to furnish /
he Health once lists of their custom t
BIS 30 that diseases spread by infected !
milk could be traced to their sources. '
Regulations for use at the dairies and C
,n the transportation routes are pro- +
,osed. Rules for the care of asimals and
regulations for dairy employees are also
prescribed. p
OPERATION FOR CANCER.