Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-07
DEADLY DISEASES IN MILK.
Tcarlet Fever, tuberculosis Ty.
phoid and Dipbtheria,
INJURY ON in W1"hinHtor--hgrirui-
turnl Department. O,iciniS Find
Serions Dnngers nbout the
Capital supply.

officials Of the department OF asricul
lure are greatly interested i'm reports
fiom chicago Of the ravagos Of the raw
milk epidemic In that city, says th"
Washington correspondent OF the New
York Globe. The health authorities ad-
init that the prevalence of disease there
Is due to Infected milk. The Washington
cypor,s accept this view. They are fully
prepared to believe that scarlet fever.
diphthoria. typhoid, tuberculosis, measles,
whooping cough, and Other communicable
diseases of this sort can readily be trans
mitted 10y milk, and are frequently so
transmitted
without particular reference to the sit
uat}on in Chicago, but aroused by the be-
lief that there is great need the country
over for cleaner milk the department is
taking important steps tu bring about I'M
proved sanitary methods. Under the di-
rection of chief +. II. Webster Of the
dairy division an inquiry is being mad"
about the sources of milk supplied 10
Washington. the method of transporting
It. the delivery, and the places where II
j. kept for sale. In short, II rs the pur-
1,osc TO trace carefully the conditions in
which the milk supply of Washington -
10 be found from the COW to the table.
II will require about two months moro
az investigation before the results can he
made public This Is the first sanitary
inquiry of the kind the department Of
agriculture has undertaken. II is moro
comprehensive than has ever been made
on the continent. Tho department has in
vestigated the milk supply of cities
great deal from the commercial stand
point. hut not from tho sanitary stand
voint. II is believed that when the re-
port on the Washington Investigation is
completed It will open the eyes of health
authorities all over the land
DANGEROUS CONDITION FOUND.
The officials are not ready TO say what
their findings will be. II is known, how
ever. that they have discovered a serious
state Of things. Cows are given to drink
water that contains typhus germs. milk
vessels are washed in such water en-
rloyes that have contagious diseases han
de milk and deliver milk hotties, and
there are such grave sanitary abuses
that 1t cannot he doubted that rigid meas
ures are necessary TO overcome them
one instance cited is that of an en-
ploye who had not yet recovered from
scarlet fever delivering milk. Traces Of
The disease remained between his fingers
\ number Of cases Of scarlet fever broke
oyt along his milk route, traceable, as the
officials are convinced. to him.
Secretary Wilson said that he had pcr-
sonally paid little attention to the raw
milk scourge in Chicago. but he had no
doubt that disease could easily be com
INDICATED through milk through It's being
handled by careless and unclcan en-
ployos. through bottles poorly washed
through bottles allowed to stand in
houses where there were conta gious dis
cases. through washing milk vessels in
water containing disease germs. and
through the drinking of such water by
dairy cows.
Assistant Secretary Hays. who has gem
eral oversight of the inquiry. and who
IS much interested in the subject. was
asked as to the raw milk epidemic in Chi
cago and milk supply conditions in cities
He said:
The time has come when ii Is roces-
rary that more money be expended in i'm
proving and protecting our animal food
supply. This applies both 10 meat and
milk. MIX is a ready culture medium
for bacteria are easily communicated
through it. a clean milk supply is very
important. 1t IS not proper 20 blame
any one in particular for present condi-
tons, but local health authorities should
see to It that the milk supply is protected
thoroughly. Places whore milk is kept
for sale in cities should be subjected to
careful inspection. city meat markets
likewise should be inspected and should
lie kept as clean as the cleanest kitten