The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-12-28
STATE MILKMEN
UNDER FIRE
New Jersey Board of Health
Says Tneir Bad Methods
Ar Responsible for Infant
Mortality
VIOLATER ) PRO ecu TED

1 lls 4
THEM ARE FOUND TO BE IN
SANITARY AND UNsATrSFAC-
TORY.
!
Milk dealers of New Jersey are held
responsible, in the annual report of the
New Jersey State Board Of Health, just
presented to- Governor Stokes. for the in
crease during the past year of deaths
among infants of the State. The i'm
crease of mortality among infants was
slight, the report holds. and then it goes
on to say
1T will be observed that the number
of deaths among infants increased slight
Fly during the year, Notwithstanding the
fact that the summer was comparatively
cool. and this is believed to indicate that
the boldness and cupidity of certain un-
scrupulous milk dealers has led them to
!, return, in some degree, to the vicious
practices to which they We're accustomed
previous to the crusade against impure
milk which began in 1893, and which re-
suited in the immediate reduction of the
mortality among infants of this State
The report deals with the milk situa-
| tion in general and abstracts on the sub
ject follow
"The work of the board during the
year just closed has been conducted along
the same general lines which have been
| followed during several years past, but
] especial attention has been given to the
/ protection Of the food supply, particular
/ ly concerning milk, shell fish and meat.
( The three assistant inspectors of food
devoted almost their entire tine from
! June 4 to sepfe1nber 10 TO tfe ruifectiun
Of samples of milk, and the analysis Of
these samples, and furnishing evidence IN
| suits instituted for the penalty in cases
! where the milk was found to be adulter-
| ated, has occupied nearly all of the time
/ Of the analysts employed in the State
Laboratory of Hygiene.
During the year 1893 samples of milk
/ and cream were sent to the laboratory
by the State inspectors, and 366 samples,
~, O4 ,,ar oap+ xvoro found +o ha a dr1 IL
terated, either by skimming and the ad-
dition of water or by the addition of
preservatives. The investigations Of out
breaks of infectious diseases. inspections
of creameries and dairies, inquiries CON
cerning nuisances, prevention of the
spread of infectious diseases or animals.
prevention of the sale of contaminated
milk, supervision of the State Labora-
tory for Hygiene and the detection of the
sale of adulterated food and drugs. have
/ been continued. and the work has extend
ed to every county in the State.
4 Every milk dealer who has been
/ caught violating the law has been prose-
cuted, except in few cases where the
| evidence has been insufficient to secure
convictions. but the legal procedure pro
i vided for is so hedged about with diff
eulties in securing convictions that many
guilty parties have escaped, and addf-
tional legislation is required which will
remove the obstacles which are now be-
ing continuously and successfully en-
ployed to prevent the imposition of PEN
alties in cases where it is clearly shown
i that the milk has been adulterated.
/ "The inspection of the sources of pub
lie water supplies have resulted in the
removal of numerous pollutions. An adj
ditional enactment to more effectually
prohibit swimming and bathing in
streams in which waters for public sup
plies are taken is required to prevent
these practices.
| Nv utSilC " " thS fclJ
great advantage which we believe would
attend the enactment of law authoriz-
a ing local boards of health to be repre-
seAted annually in conference concern
4 ing the practical application of the acts
Of the Legislature and the local ordi-
nances. which are designed to promote
the public health. At present there is
but little similarity in the measures which
are employed by local sanitary officials in
/ their procedures for preventing the spread
Of disease, and it not infrequently hap
pens that in adjoining districts one of the
local boards will adopt advanced and eff
fcent methods in dealing with the prab-
lens which arise, while the other may be
wasting its opportunities in aimless and
useless efforts. To bring together the
active and leading official sanitorians Of
the State il. order that there may b.
comparison Of views. and to establish