The Washington herald., 1907-01-31
"HOKEY- POKEY" SAFE
DIR. Woodward Declares Ice
Cream Is Not Bad.
DISAGREEs WITH DR.. WILEY
Health Omcer Insists that Chemist
Shall Produce Proof that COnfec-
ton So Popular with Children Is
Made Under Conditions Not SAM
tary-TaIxes Issue with Department.

Health Officer W. c. Woodward has
again taken issue with the representatives
Of the Bureau Of Agriculture, who con-
tinue TO insist that "hokey-pokey' ice
cream is a vile and dangerous menace to
the health of Young America in Wash
ngton
Notwithstanding the fact that the de-
pariment. under the supervision OF DIT
Harvey II. Wiley, has submitted re-
port showing some few million bacilli
to every spoonful Of "hokey-pokey, Dr.
Woodward says the department must
show him" that the confection is made
amid unsanitary conditions before he will
believe there is any but healthy bacilli
in the cream.
The last analysis that has caused a
isagreement among the scientists was
made by George w. Stiles. a bacteria
logical chemist and submitted 10 DR..
Wiley. He states In his report that the
cream contains thousands OF organisms
and shows evidences Of uncieanliness and
lack OF proper sanitary conditions attend
Z
products"
The number Of school children. rs
well as those Of younger age, who daily
consume these daintes Is appalling said
[ DIR. Stiles. a conservative estimate can
not be made Of the probable harm done
T To these tender lives by ingesting such
filthy stun. And again, the possibilities
/ Of the transmission Of disease by these
! vendors. either from their own homes or
/ from one neighborhood Of children 20
another through intimate contact with
them, is "a factor worthy of consideration
/ in connection with this subject"
"ViIe," Says DIR. Wiley.
! In letter. under date of October 30. 10
! Acting Secretary Of Agriculture W. NJ.
/ Hays. DR. Wiley said. I am quite sure
/ the Commissioners Of the District Of
| Columbia would be- glad Of such evidence
as this TO stop the sale of the vile con-
! coctiOns known as 'hokey-pokey ice
+ creams. We have found these creams
are made among the most nsanitary
/ surroundings ard cut Of tine most in
sanitary materials. When these peddliug
carts are allowed 20 90 in front OF our
public schools and sell 10 the children
material OF this kind it is no wonder
7 that typhoid fever is on the increase"
( The report Of DIR. Stiles and the accom-
panyiug letter Of Dr. Wiley were for
warded by Secretary Hays TO the Ccmmls-
sloners by whom they were referred 90
/ the health officer
/ Dr. Woodward submitted the following
report 20 the Commissioners.
Inquiry by this department shows that
/ the manufacture Of hokey-pOkey has prac-
/ tically. If not completely ceased for the
current season. in order that the Health
+ Department may know the nature and To-
cation OF the most iusanitary surround
ings. under which hokey-pokey is manu-
featured. and the nature OF The most in
sanitary materials used IN such manu-
facture. reported by the Chief Of the Bu-
reau Of Chemistry Of the Department OF
Z Agriculture. / recommend that the honor
liable Secretary 81 Agriculture be requested
I 10 furnish the Commissioners with the cr-
idence which the Bureau of Chemistry has
/ collected.
Millions of BacilIi Found.
/ ''The bacterial findings referred TO
within have reference TO but two samples
( Of hokey-pokey. both collected from the
same vendor and al the same time. The
/ average bacteria in one sample is 2.3St
and Cos. while the average in the other
sample was 1920 and 352 The germs con
tanned in London ice cream has been
found by one observer 10 be from 5.C00.l0
+ so 100000 large number Of which were
colon bacilH One observer found over
Lo0o IN Ice cream. certain number OF
which were colon baciHi Other inyestiga-
tors Of the germ contents of ice cream
/ have found bacteria as follows: one cb-
server. u9.oOo TO 100000 per C. G.. another
100000 TO 100000 per C. C.. and third
590.00G to 100000 per G. C.
7 believe that hOkey-pokey. like an
other foods. should be prepared and sold
I Ia a cleanly manner. and will exert the
+ best endeavors Of the department 10 see
that that is done, but ! do not believe
that any evidence is contained i'm tn,
within communication 10 cause alarm
"WM g. WOODWARD. VI H.,
Health officer"
/ Or. Woodward said yesterday that he
had written the Department of Agricul-
/ tuTe requesting the names and addresses
/ Of those engaged in the manufacture and
sale Of this ice cream, but the same has
not been forthcoming.