The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-26
MILK AND MORTALITY
AMONG THE CHILDREN
E. Berliner Discusses the Duty Of Health
Authorities and Parents
ID he 80 d - WashIngton -:

To the Editor II The Washington Times:
From rports printed IN the daily
press and as a result OF information
received from authentic sources. IL -ap-
pears that have incurred the displca-
sure OF the Milk Dealers Association
because l have for some time agitat6a
a movement in the direction Of improv-
ing the milk supply in the District ot
Columbia.
am not conscious Of ever having Ut
tered any statement which could not 20
backed up by proper proof or authority,
nor nave I ever been prompted By per-
sonal interest or by bias against any one
individual OF class Of merchants
have had occasion TO study the milk
question in its relation to sickness
among children several years ago. and
IL dawned On me that as an old citizen
of the District it was my duty to call at
tention to what considered a failure
to comprehend the dangers which per-
MATED the milk trafic.
I felt like the man who sees another
asleep on railroad track who should
be awakened and informed CT his dan
gerous position
Starting from the fact that scarlet
fever was unknown IN countries where
cows milk was not used as food I sug-
gested TO some friends that campaign
of education on the milk question. would
result in the decrease OF this and al
lied sicknesses.
I had the satisfaction OF seeing this
prediction verified. Today and for the
past year scarlet fever and diphtheria
have ali but disappeared from the Dis
trict Of Columbia.
I do not claim this result 20 be en-
tirely due to my efforts. but simply TO
the fact that through the Society for
the Prevention Of Sickness constantly
kept the question before the people. be-
fore the Health Office, before the milk
dealers. all of whom were stimulated
into exerting some interest, some en-
deavor, in the direction OF sanitary
measures applied to the milk traffic
All OF these gentlemen have done
much. though a great deal remains 10
be done.
only mention the fact that the rail-
roads do not provide refrigerator cars
for the milk traffic and to the fact that
unpasteurized cream is sold and used in
I ice cream.
Some milk dealers claim that at the
4 price they sell milk the profits DO not
warrant the introduction of uD-to-d date
sanitary improvements at the dairies
and the employment Of more intelligent
/ helpers 1t viii be a lucky cay for the
District when the price OF milk has TO
I be advanced cents per quart on ac-
count of more stringent laws governing
the dairies and the milk traffic. Far
better 10 pay more for clean milk than
early graves and years OF mourning; bet
ter eternal vigilance on the milk bust
ness than vigils at beautiful children's
deathbeds
1 earnestly hope that the number OF
dairy people who find fault with efforts
toward sanitary milk is limited: that. on
the contrary. milk dealers viii court
every legitimate measure which will help
to free their conscience from q suspicion
/ OF having added TO increase the NOR
tally among children
l should be the first TO correct any
/ erroneous statements which have made
\ or retract any action that could be con-
I strued as an injustice 10 anyone. I re
\ peat l have no interests beyond doing
/ my civic duty in line which appears TO
! me as containing elements for the public
I welfare. E. BERLINER
Washington. D. C.. July 25. 1908.