The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-07-30
EMBALMED MILK.
Is all Milk Pure that Is Sold in
Bloomsbury?
ADULTERATED ELSEWHERE


subject of "Embalmed Milk" in
which it says
ut is a matter of the highest
satisfaction that the State Food De-
partment has been actively at work
on the milk question and is prepar-
ing to arrest one hundred persons
who are alleged to have violated the
laws against adulteration.
1t appears that up the state there
has arisen plan of injecting what
is called embalming fluid into the
milk for the purpose Of keeping it
sweet. This is something rather
new, and we only hope that the
accused persons can prove their
innocence. We have heard a great
deal lately about "embalmed beef"
but we believe that this is the first
time that it was ever claimed that
milk was chemically treated, The
reports of illness up the state due
to impnre milk, and the outcome of
the suits of the department will be
watched with interest.
What is certain is that great
many diseases are propagated
through impure milk. 1t is known
that there is no substance used as
food in which bacilli grow so rapid
ly as in milk. In these days, when
SO many diseases are traced to
germs, it ought to be understood
that there are two important classes
the bacilli (Which are vegetable)
ard the amoeba (Which are animal.)
The latter are usually the most
destructive, but, fortunately, are
not so common. Bacilli lean be
killed by raising the temperature of
the food to 100 degrees Fahrenheit,
which in the case of milk is easily
done by submerging the milk bottle
for few moments in boiling water.
This so-called pasteurizing is abso-
lutely remedial and does no harm
whatever to the milk, which boiling
does in some cases.
There are many physicians who
insist that uncooked milk is poison.
There are others who say that un-
pasteurized milk is poison if used
twelve hours after milking. 1t is
certain that most of the diseases of
children are due to the use of milk
which contains impurities and very
often the germs which lead to the
tomb. The state can do no better
service than compel the sale of only
pure milk and then make the public
understand that for infants use it
must be free from the bacilli which
produce those dreadful diseases
which are commonly by the igno-
rant laid to the process of teething.
1t is perfectly natural for child
to cut teeth, and with proper pre-
cautions produces no serious upset.
ting OF the constitution. l."
There are a large number of
milk dealers in Columbia county.
In Bloomsbury there must be
twenty wagons or more that supply
milk from house to house. None
of these have been accused Of adul-
terating their milk, but if it is done
elsewhere with impunity and profit,
there is no telling how soon some
one less scrupulous than the others
may adopt the "embalming" meth
cd. We are informed that several
months ago two milkmen were con-
versing, and one was overheard to
tell the other that he had been
asked by third one to enter into
an agreement among the milkmen
to use a certain preservative in the
milk, but that he had refused.
From this it mould appear that the
matter had at least been discussed
among some of the dealers.
1t would be dangerous thing to
adopt. The pure food inspector is
liable to come along any day, and
take samples from every milk
wagon. If he does not come this
way soon, it is proposed to send
some samples to him for analysis.
The pure food laws are excellent
ones and ought to be strictly en-
forced. Many grocers have been
compelled to pay heavy fines for
selling impure canned goods which
they bought in good faith supposing
them to be pure food. How much
greater is the offense of those who
deliberately put injurious matter in
the milk or other food or drink, fol
the sake of increasing their profits
Should it be discovered that milk
is being adulterated by any dealer,
the COLUMBIAN promises in advance
to exert every influence to make
the offender pay the penalty i'm
posed by law.