The Democratic advocate., 1906-07-20
New York, July IA

Every late magazine has an article on
this subject, and day after day the promi
nent metropolitan papers have editorials
and news articles concerning the move
ment which is of vital interest to every
family in the land
PURE MILK THE FIRST DEMAND.
That this battle of the people will surely
win there can be no doubt, notwithstand-
ing the subtle and powerful opposition that
was been manifested in some quarters.
The first general stand is being made to
secure a sufficient supply of milk, of prime
quality, and guarded from contamination,
since this is necessity for the very exist
ence of babies and young children and an
essential part of diet for people of all ages
and conditions.
AN ENGLISH BOOK
A book that has been attracting wide
attention has been lately published in Eng
land. Its title, Infants Mortality and
Infants Milk Depots," sufficiently indi-
Gates the scope of the work Written by
DR.. G. f. McCleary, of the London Health
Board, Its tone is moderate and eonserva-
tive, with no tinge of yellowness' in its
style, yet it is an appalling presentation Of
the evils wrought where the milk supply is
not properly safeguarded. In an exhaus-
tive review Of the subject the author shows
the good results that have followed the
adoption of scientific methods, and makes
the plea that it is surely quite as much
duty of the State to save the lives Of in
fants, as to provide police force to pre-
vent murder and other crimes.
AMERICA THE PIONEER
This country is given credit for being the
first to point out the danger from infected
milk, and for producing an advanced
thinker on sanitary food who provided
means TO combat undesirable conditions.
We have, however, until now, Jagged far
behind Europe in enforcing needed re
forms. Over three hundred cities have
made the safeguarding of the milk supply
obligatory, while it Is only within the past
few weeks that the City Fathers here,
in Boston, and in few other places, have
taken action in this direction
THE CAMPAIGN or THE FIFTiEs.
Mr. Charles Elley Hall, in a recent
number of Leslie's Weekly, gives a most
interesting account of the campaign against
what was then termed ''Swill Milk, in
augurated nearly fifty years ago by Mr..
Frank Leslie in his Illustrated Weekly.
The great dailies, the Times, Herald. and
Tribune, (of which Horace Greeley was
then editor), took up the matter and lent
it their powerful aid in exposing and abol-
ishing the horrid sources of much Of New
York S milk supply.
GAIL BORDEN AND HIS WORK.
Just about this time, Gail Borden, after
a long and seemingly hopeless fight against
all sorts Of obstacles, hadsueeeeded in OBJ
tanning patents here and abroad for his
process Of condensing pure COW milk in
vacuum by removing large portion of the
water which it contained, and sealing the
remainder in alright cans so that it re-
manned pure and wholesome under all con
ditions for an indefinite period, and could
be practically reconyerted to its original
form simply by adding pure water to suit
individual needs.
THE MAN AND THE OPPORTUNITY.
As so often happens at a crisis, the man
and the opportunity met in the critical sit
uation of the milk supply of our city. Mr..
Borden inserted modest advertisement in
Leslie's Weekly and started in to meet the
demand that at once sprang up for his pro-
duct. The sturdy old inventor used him
self to drive about the streets, ringing
bell to attract attention to his wares.
PRIME MILK A NECESSITY.
Very early in experimenting with meth
ods for eondensing COW milk, Mr.. Borden
found that he could secure satisfactory re-
suits only if the milk was of prime quality.
His contracts with the farmers who sup
Piled him with milk for his plants demand
ed standards of feeding, sanitary surround
ings, coolings and handling that more than
meet the most exaeting requirements of
the present day.
Ensilage-the green stock food pre-
served by a process of fermenting in silos
which has been largely used for the feed
ing the COWS, because it increases the
amount of milk given, was condemned by
Mr.. Borden, and the best authorities are
now agreed that this form of feeding ina
pairs the quality of the milk, and lessons
its food value, especially for young chill
dren and delicate adults, chiefly because of
its acid condition. Experienced dairy men
recognize this fact.
INDIVIDUAL CARE.
No official action, however, can do
away with the need for individual care.
When all mothers realize the Importance
of perfect sanitary cleanliness in the sur
roundings of infants, and especially in the
preparation of their food, more will have
been accomplished than could be done by
any amount Of official action
FEW SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS.
Nature intends infants to live and
thrive, and they will do so if they are kept
perfectly clean, comfortably clothed, sup
Piled with plenty of pure, fresh air, ana
regularly fed on milk that has been intel
ligently prepared-just sufficient at a time
for one feeding This should be given to
them at once when it is ready to prevent
any chance of its becoming infected with
harmful bacteria.
Where condensed milk is employed,
care must be taken to boil the water used
for its dilution, and it should be cooled to
about 100 degrees Fahrenheit before add
ing to the milk. Where natural cows
milk is preferred, a physician should be
consulted and the greatest care taken to
secure milk from properly fed and cared
for cows, in surroundings that preclude the
presence of microbes.