The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-01

MILK
MATTER.

The matter of the impure milk that
was delivered 10 the family Of Edwin
HodslSiss at 1S Althea street and which
caused It is supposed. the serious illness
OF Miss Hodgldss. ir stiil very much
alive question. and has not been dropped
as many supposed.
Mr.. Hodgkiss visited the office of In
spector OF Milk Scott, at his office on
Saturday and also saw Superintendent OF
Health DR.. Chaplin
According 10 the story Mr.. Hodghss
told the milk Inspector. HIS daughter
has not yet completely recovered from
her illness, but is forced TO remain In
doors. He has had talk with the
dealer in a question and the latter In
formed him, Mr. Hodgkiss says. that the
milk was ont intended for him, put ror
another person.
Another and a very interesting, as
well as significant feature which has
since developed, is the story which the
woman who owns the dairy from winch
Mr.. Hodgkiss' milkman gets his supply
told the Inspector.
She As reported 20 have about as clean
a herd of mitch COWS as there Is In the
state and also keeps her stables In a
clean condition. She said that the milk
man had written her a letter In which
he blamed her for selling him odd milk
and she wanted TO deny this
According TO her story, after che sold
the milk to the dealer for delivery In
this city. the latter having an over
supply, has been in the habit OF keeping
what is left over In the stable. Instead
OF using a stove to keep 81 from freez-
ing. as other milkmen do. II Is claimed
that ne has placed the cans In close
proximity 10 the stalls occupied by his
horses and kept II from congealing by
| the heat of their bodies. This state of
affairs. n true Mr., Scott says, is certain
to cause a spread OF disease II the horses
or any other animals in the barn are In
any way affected.
II Is possible Mr.. Scott says. that Mr.
| Hodgkiss win have a talk with the
woman who has been selling the milk
that caused the trouble, and after thai
conversation there may be further de-
velopments.
Dr. Gardner T. Swarts. secretary OF
the state board OF health. was seen In
relation 10 the subject of impure milk
II is matter 10 which he has given a
great deal of attention. and which he
| considers should be agitateo constantly
until consumers insist upon cleanliness
I'm this particular case OF Miss Hodg-
kiss" said DR.. Swarts. IT doubt II the
milk had anything to do with her Ill
ness. Even IL II did II is next TO i'm
possible to prove such a fact, for the rea-
son that the sample of milk was In a
state OF coagulation when II was de-
livered TO the health department
turned II over TO DR.. Perkins, but he
found that an analysis then would show
nothing conclusive TO the condition OF
the milk when II was left at Mr.. Hodg-
kiss house. In order to determines the
| character OF the bacteria contained ir
| milk. II Is necessary to obtain the fiui6
In its fresh state and make a very care.
ful analysis. because milk contains
bacteria II does not necessarily follow
that II Is harmful Even the purest mill
obtainable contains from 10000 to 1000
| Of these minute organisms TO the cubic
centimetre while the average milk o.
| commerce by the time II reaches the con
sumer may hold half million or nror'
| bacteria to the cubic centimetre.
There are so many easy opportunitie
for producing an aggravated case o
gastrftis that I'm the case OF Miss Hodg
kiss all the signs are against the theor!
that there was any trouble with th
| milk"