Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-04-26
CONCERNING OUR
MILK SUPPLY

A communication has been received
at this office signed DaiTyman, '
which approves the action taken by
the authorities to promote good santa
tion by securing an analysis Of river
water, perfecting sewerage, etc, but
which suggests the adyisability Of the
board of health examining another
source of contagion, which has ap-
parently been overlooked. Reference
is made to the milk supply Of the
town, which, as is we'll understood, if
not scrupulously clean and pure, is apt
to prove a potent cause of typhoid
fever and other diseases. Inasmuch as
the writer is dairyman the views ad-
vanced, as they relate to milk, especi-
ally, ought to have much weight TIL
communication reads in part:
"As everyone knows the only diet
given to a person suffering with fever
is milk. Let us consider what might
happen if the milk given the patient
Is uOl VI Illt bCSl anu tilt BuANSN HNAttA
ity. Assuming that the COWS are
healthy, is it not most frequently the
case that the COWS are confined in
| dark, filthy, unventilated stables
Amid such surroundings is it not to be
supposed that deadly bacteria, which
lurk in such places, will be introduced
into the milk? The bacteria increase
with wonderful rapidity and by the
time the milk reaches the fever patti
ent it is laden with deadly poison and
the poor weak patient, whose only hope
of life is in the sustenance he gets
from the milk, is required 10 partake
of actual poison. Now, the honest con
scientious dairyman will see to it that
his stables and their surroundings are
clean and sanitary, but how about the
milk he purchases from other people
Is he always careful to visit these
farms to ascertain if the stables are
clean and sanitary and consequently
whether the milk is all that it should
| be?
I'm what better way can disease be
carried from house TO house than by
bottled milk? Does anyone suppose
that the dairyman disinfects every bot
tie each time it is returned? Is it not
put in the case with the other bottles
and washed by the dairyman in the
usual way? The next day the bottles
are all filled and distributed, as they
happen to come. to the patrons on the
route. The bottle that came from the
fever stricken home goes into some
other home and in a short time anoth
er case of typhoid fever is reported.
1--WE have considered the possible
sources first, but there is another rea
son why the health authorities shoulc
inquire into the dairy supply. Every
month the dairy and food department
sends out book containing the names
of persons who have violated the Law
by adulteration of milk and other fooC
supplies AS we know Danville ha
not been quite innocent in the pas
and who is sure as to the present sup
ply? Last year the agent did not ties
the milk sold in Danville and it is no
likely that he will come this summe
unless somebody requests the depart
ment to make n test. Consumers arr
very willing to patronize dairymal
warm weather, yet nature never in
tended milk to keep sweet longer thar
a certain time Beware of milk o
cream that keeps sweet in warn
weather-it is 'doctored. Why shoulo
not Danville follow the example 0
other towns and require a test of tn
milk once every month? The Babcocl
test costs but q small amount and tn
test can easily be made. Thus the con
sumer would know whether the mill
is honest in its weight and above 0
below the standard. All honest dairy
men would hail such an examination
with pleasure. "
DAIRYMAN