The Topeka state journal., 1903-06-27

advantage of those who may be ma
terially benefited by its utilization un-
der proper circumstances, but who, like
many with preconceived prejudices. re-
fuse the offices of agents that, at times
are Enthusiastically the very best for
them to take advantage Of
The fraud of distributing doctored
milk for the pure article and the folly
of permitting an indispensably valuable
agent like formaldehyde to be erron-
eously proclaimed a poison. thereby ere
atlng unreasonable prejudice against it
with those who are quick to form Opin-
ion, but slow to understand the true
merits of agents provided for their pro-
lection, should be plain enough to those
who give the subject careful thought
The facts in the matter should be
made plain. should be weighed with de-
liberation and an ardent desire to favor
the spread of information up to date in
the direction of advancing the interests
of the whole people. In the first place,
it is conceded by the best authorities in
hygienic matters that any attempt to
preserve milk other than to keep it
free from impurities, to permit escape
of the animal heat, and to keep it there
after at temperature below that favor
able to the development of natural pro-
cesses of change, which set in early
when facilitated by absence of due care,
is unwarranted and unhygienic. This
is common sense as we'll as science To
mix old with new milk (Which, in the
writer's opinion, is done by our shippers
and milk dealers daily is wrong, be-
cause it is reasonable to conclude that
to add milk a day old to fresh milk
gives processes of fermentation that
have started in the old the chance to
impel the same processes in the new.
In the second place. while formaldehyde
is a powerful ba actericide. its properties are
not inimical to or destructive OF the higher
animal organism The gas of fOrmaldehyde
may be respired freely and it is curative OF
respiratory affections. The solution may be
poisonous effects. Formaldehyde kills bac-
teria in milk. but it cannot prevent
changes in its constituency, due to age
and lack of care to keep it fresh. which
are baneful to alimentary processes
The gist of the whole matter is that It IS
fraudulent to add foreign material TO milk
in lieu of sensible mana cement to preserve
its sweetness. and it is folly to permit
wrong impressions to be formed relative 10
an agent of curative and distinctive po-
tencies which may prejudice the unsclen-
tific mind against it. and the habit should
be cultivated of learning the properties Of
a chemical before descanting upon unwar-
rantablV ascribei poisonous Cnes-
Ne one with common sense will indCrse
the action of those who mix Yesterday g
with today's milk. add antiseptic material
and put the resultant product on the ~ r.
l<et tomorrow or the day after This prac-
tice minus the presence of fcrmaldehyde-
would lead to nfantile mortality To bring
into unmerited disrepute such a relIaDl2
disinfectant as fOrmaldehyde by proclaim
ing 1t t'pOisOn in milk. and fail to Teco4s-
nize its worth by naming its true merit, is
an error of both commission and omission
a double sin Formaldehyde is most ad-
rnirable agent for the disinfection of IN
fectious habitaton, and TO prejudice the
ever is to say the least, Ieprehensibis.-
Chicago ReCOFd-HeralQ-