The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-01
Suggestions Made by the Feders
al Government.
Topeka Consumes About 1000
Gallons Daily.
ENFORCE THE LAW.
Then Embalming Fluid Won't
Be Used Here.
Adulteration Is General, as In
dicated by Report.

Food Inspector Farnsworth has re-
ceived from the United States depart
ment of agriculture a report in regard
to the sale and adulteration of milk.
This report is of interest in view of the
popular demand that the health officers
of Topeka enforce the laws prohibiting
the use of embalming fluid in milk.
The bulletin says the agitation of the
question of impure milk has resulted in
improved practices on the part of per-
sons handling this article of food.
but there is still much room for i'm
provement. For instance. attention is
called to the fact that the ideal vessel
for the conveyance of milk remains 10
be discovered.
The report of the city of Topeka is
contributed to this report by City Food
Inspector J. P. Farnsworth, and con-
tains the following information about
Topeka's milk supply:
The daily consumption of milk is es-
timated at 1900 gallons, 4S hun
dredths of pint per capita. besides so
gallons of SKINNED milk and so gallons
of cream. This is sold from 20 stores
and SO wagons. Five per cent of tha
milk is delivered in glass bottles, which
are filed in the city, none is pasteurized.
The retail price is cents per quart in
summer and TO % Genus IN WINTER
producers receiving 21z cents in summer
and 21k to 3lA cents In winter. The milk
from one model dairy near the city is
sold for S1z cents per quart and higher.
Within the city limits there are four
herds, including so cows, and milk is
brought to the city in wagons from 100
dairy farms within a radius of ten miles.
Ordinances No. 620 of May, 1886, and
No. 802. of April, 1888, refer to milk.
The food inspector must inspect milk
supply. Persons selling milk must reg
lister with the board of health. Adult
terated milk is prohibited Milk from
cows fed on refuse from starch factory.
vinegar factory or glucose factory is
prohibited. The milk standard is II per
cent solids and per cent fat. Skinned
milk must be labeled.
About 1000 is expended annually in
the supervision of foods, the inspector
giving a part of his time to the milk
supply. During the past year about AGO
samples OF milk were examined by the
Babcocl1 test; no meteorological tests
were made; all the city herds and near
ly all the dairy farms were inspected.
! The figures show that 1000 100000 gal
Ions of milk are sold annually and the
average quantity per capita consumed
in the largest cities is somewhat less
than wo-thirds of a pint a day. The
smallest consumption is in New Or
leans, where it is about One-fOurth of
a pint Milk is sold from Il, 900 stores
in New York city, OF an average of one
store to every 2S6 persons, and it is de-
livered from 1000 wagons, or an aver
age of one wagon to every S59 persons.
In cities with a population above 5O,-
900 there is an average of one wagon
to about 7S4 persons. Some cities report
several thousand cows in herds Within
their boundaries, and most cities have
quite a number of cows kept singly
for the private use of the families own
ing them.
The tables show a wide variation in
the prices paid for milk in different
,..Ae .xf he frN prndIInarG
ly receive ON their farms from to 3
cents a quart in the summer ana
cents or more in winter, but these I'M
its are often exceeded. On the other
hand in some communities in some
seasons producers receive less than 2
cents a quart. The average price paid
by consumers of milk when retailed IN
small quantities is about cents IN
summer and cents in winter
'-'The practice of pasteurization ap-
pears to be gradually extending. Yet
the medical fraternity is divided in
opinion as to expediency, and the best
sentiment favors natural milk produced 2
and delivered in such pure and pro-
tected condition as to be greatly super
ior to any pasteurized article. Too OF
ten milk is offered for sale with the
claim that il has been pasteurized when
it has been actually more harmed than
helped the process to which 1t has been
subjugated being unworthy the name
If done at all pasteurizatlon should be
ing efficient apparatus.
Many suggestions are made for the
improvement of the milk supply, arnonS
which are the following:
The registration of all dairies.
OficiaI endorsement of properly con-
Quoted dairies.
Inspection of all herds, barns, dairy
buildings, etc. once month.
Better lighting, ventilation drainage,
and cleanliness of COW stables.
Whitewashing the interior of stables
Eradication of tuberculosis from dairy
herds.
Branding of condemned cows.
Cows not to be given swill feed, etc.
Cows to be regularly cleaned.
Pasturage for city cows.
Aeration of milk in pure air.
Prompt cooling of milk and holding
it at a low temperature until final de-
livery.
Shipment of milk from farms prompt
ly after milking.
Delivery of milk and cream in sealed
rla pka QpS