Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-21
FIRM ABOUT MILK
NEW YORK WILL INSIST ON
THOROUGH INSPECTION.


health held a protracted meeting yesterday,
which ended in a hurry call on DR.. Biggs.
the medical adviser of the board, by Dr.
Darlington, the health commissioner. 1t
was net intended that it should be known
that the board was considering the milk
problem yesterday. But such was the fact,
and the board, contrary to it's intention In
the beginning, decided that 1t would really
take a definite stand on the question, and
incidentally force the hand of the board or
estimate and apportionment
Dr. Darlington called the attention of the
board to the fact that unless his force or
dairy inspectors was increased to make in
spection of the general herds equivalent to
certification he would be compelled TO take
a stand for pasteurization of all milk en-
tering this city uness there was a guaran-
tee of adequate Inspection. The health
commissioner recognizes the strong sentl-
ment in favor of pasteurization of the Or
binary supply and viii comply with 1t II he
cannot get thorough Inspection in its place.
This inspection does not seem possible With
out an additional $4,000 appropriation,
and this the financial authorities do not
seem to be willing to give. Inspection OF
the kind that the board wishes to make Will
be fully equivalent to the work now done by
the County Medical Society, it is said. But
it takes money to make thorough inspection
possible, and that Is what the health de-
partment lacks.
Passed a Resolution.
The department passed a resolution yes
terday defining the line between true and
commercial pasteuIization The resolution
demands that all milk treated by the gem
eral pasteurization method shall be labeled
to show whether true pasteurizat1on mas
been employed or not.
Another resolution passed called for re-
ports from all diaries regarding the health
of the employees and of their families IL
is the intention to prevent even the posi-
bility of contagion from any source what
ever. The latter resolution will be enforced
to the full extent of the power OF the
board, and the pasteurization pronuncla-
mento will be treated in the same way The
board has no use for the commercial meth
cd. on the ground that it does not XIII the
most dangerous germs. 1t VIII not De
enough under the new ruling OF the depart
ment to mark milk as pasteurized. 1t must
he marked to show whether commercial or
true pasteurization was employed, SO that
the consumer may not be deceived.
And just here comes in the question OF q
municipal pasteurization plant. The board
has not the money, but if it's plan is carried
out the money will have to be forthcoming:
The city must have a certain quantity OF
milk If the regular certified supply falls
short as it is pretty sure to do. uncertif1ed
milk will have to be brought in. and this
will not be distributed unless it Is pasteur-
lied by the true method. The city will have
to do this Private enterprise may under
take it, but this is doubtful. 1t would raise
the price too much. The board of health
has almost given up hope of getting all the
money necessary to carry on It's work IN
improving the milk supply, but so far as
possible the plans of the department will
not be allowed to halt for want of the es-
sential ammunition.
To Clear the Air.
To clear the air Dr.. Darlington issued
this statement last night:
The attitude of the board of health
toward the pasteurization of milk has ap-
parently been quite widely misunderstood.
The following statement, authorized by the
board, seems desirable:
The board Of health has for many years
advocated in every possible way the boiling
or pasteurization of all milk, not certified
used in the feeding of infants during the
summer months. 1t has year after year, in
every possible way, through it's summer
corps of medical inspectors and nurses, and
through the distribution of thousands of
circulars of information on infant feeding
in the tenement house districts, urgently
advised and continues to advise this pro-
cedure.
Several years ago extensive Investigations
were carried on in connection with the
Rockefeller Institute for infectious diseases
In the matter of feeding of infants in tene-
ment houses. A result of the educational
work carried on in connection with milk Is
that many mothers in the tenement house
district have become familiar with its i'm
portance. SO that large portion of them
boil or pasteurZe the milk used in feeding
infants
The department has done everything in
tn he Of ba
Straus milk depots: furthermore the de-
partment has provided in its sanitary code
for the sale of pasteurized milk, and is pre-
pared heartily to encourage its use.