Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-22
DISTRIBUTION OF PURE MILK
STATIONS FOR SUPPLYING 1T TO
SICK INFANTS.
Plan Favorably Considered for the Dis
trict-Merits Of the PROPOSE
ton Discussed.

A movement is foot to establish
number of distributing dairies throughout
the city, at which certified and otherwise
pure and safe milk can be purchased for
infants. At the last conference OF the
newly appointed milk commission OF the
District the question of furnishing pure and
safe milk for infants of the poor was dis
cussed at much length and municipal
dairy was recommended by DR.. H. w.
Wiley, chief chemist of the Department of
Agriculture.
Although such dairy is looked upon as
meritorious it is not considered practical
at the present time, and it could not be ma
terialized for another year at least, con-
gressional legislation being necessary.
These distribution stations to be conducted
upon the same lines as the free Ice sta
tions during the summer. can be put into
operation this summer it is believed, and
will answer the purpose of the municipal
dairy in many respects. DR. w. Z. Wood
ward. District health officer, Is heartily in
favor of the proposition and VIII lend the
movement every aid possible.
A similar system of the distribution of
milk to infants was established in Roches-
ter two years ago and Providence, X. l..
followed suit last year, and In each case
it is declared it has been a great success.
The distribution stations are maintained by
subscription. although in both Rochester
ana frONldence the STATIONS colieCteu
enough from the sale of the milk to pay
half of the cost of maintenance.
Expense Will Be Small.
According to DIR. Woodward the work of
starting the undertaking is not very great,
the amount of money necessary is COM
paratively small In Providence it was
started with less than 5000. The next step
is securing locations for the distributing
la rie nd he NJ
and helpers. and the purchasing of the
necessary mHk bottles, refrigerators and
ice. etc. In Providence the majority of the
ice used was donated by local ice COM
panies. One of the most important fea-
lures of the plan is the selection OF
dairy farm from which to obtain the milk.
1t is necessary to get the milk from
sanitary dairy and from COWS free of any
diseases. The selection of the dairy farm
will be left to the local health officials,
who know the conditions of the same and
the extent of the health of tie mich cows:
In speaking of this plan for supplying
the infants of the poor with good pure
milk this summer. DR.. Woodward said
The only thing that is needed is COM
paratively small amount of money and
considerable amount of intelligent per-
sonal service. If the money and the serv-
ice can be obtained, there should be no
difficulty in lind nS one or more dairymen
who VIII agree to place the production of
milk on their farms under the immediate
supervision of persons specially designated
for that purpose and representing the pur
chaser of such milk. MIX when thus pro-
duced and passing into the possession of
those who are going to put it on the mar
ket for the sole purpose of saving infants
lives, and not with any view to the max
ing of money by the venture. could and
would be put upon the market in the man
ner best calculated to accomplish its life
saving purpose. the commercial features
being absolutely subordinated thereto
Plan in Other States.
In Rochester and Providence a trained
charge of each distributing station. 1t is
tation of the station and to the treatment of
milk before it is sold to the consumer. The
milk is furnished in nursing bottles, just
the right quantity for single nursing in
each bottle. The price is ) cents day for
ba bies up to six months; cents between
six and ten months. and 10 cents over ten
months. deposit of 5 cents is required
for bottles which deposit is made only
once.
The Rhode Island state board of health
in its last monthly bulletin commended this
milk distributing pla3 in the highest terms,
not only from a CHART point of view but
because it promotes health. Many of the
beneficiaries were ill-some critically so.
the health bulletin stated. "Of course some
of the babies died, but the majority of
were put on the station milk. ultimately
recovered. Many of the customers of the
stations came long distances, often at great
inconvenience, thus testifying to their APP
precia ton of the milk. There is no doubt
that the life of many a little one was saved
by this undertaking."
The infant mortality in the District dur
ing the heated months last year was unus-
ually high and the health officer appreciates
the necessity for such a method of milk dis
tribution more than the average person