The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-24
IN DANGER
FROM IMPURE MILK,
DIARIES INFECTED
Department of AgriCul-
ture Finds Water Sup
ply to Be Bad.
District Health Official
FayOrS Daily InSpec-
ton of Farms.

impure milk, its causes. effect on the
health OK The community. and means OF
purifying Jac supply or Washington.
was the subject of i've addresses by hac-
ter.olcg.sIs ana experts before the Med
zeal Socie-y OF the District Of Columbis.
last night az George Washington Uni
re*sity Each of the speakers had de-
voted considerable time IN field inves-
LEGATIONS, looking into farm diaries and
ther sanitary conditions, and the other
causes that have 10 do with the pollu-
tion az Washington's milk supply. The
addresses We're highly interesting and
instructive, and were illustrated with
stereOptic0n slides.
The chairman OF the executive com
mittee, Or. George III. KObeF, read a
report favoring the proposed legislation
now before Congress FOR the regulation
OF the milk business, its production.
shipment. and sale as provided for in
H. r. bill p. $50 This report showed
that The general average OF milk stand
ard supplied 10 Washington is not good
but Is not as bad as some suppose, al
though IL was stated. on general prin-
ciples. that the percentage Of typhoid
scarlet fever. diphtheria. and other con-
tagtous diseases chargeahie 10 impure
milk Is larger here than in many cities
where registration IS enforced.
Water Supply Infected.
k F. Kenerman. a specialist OF the
Department OF Agriculture. reviewed
Investigations he had made in the field
OF the dairles supplying Washington
with milk showed that OF sixty sources
OF water supply 10 as many dairies IS
per cent were badly infected, neces-
sarily producing disease-laden milk
lie stated that his department had
made "A close study of Washington's
water supply 10 determine whether Il
was responsible for the contagious dis
eases ia the city. and the conclusion
Was reached that the city water is not
responsible for any perceptible number
of eases of typhoid.
r. IL. HeckWiIh. bacteriolOgist OF the
Department OF Agriculture. discussed
the cooling of milk, which he said was
absolutely necessary TO prevent pure
milk from becoming contaminated. he
described some Of the sources OF ice
supply on dairy farms-Lakea from
eesapo0!s ln meadows a practice which
le characterized as criminal Impure
walter. careless cleansing OF cans and
negligence I'm handling and exposing
milA 10 stables and other uOXiOus places
were pointed out as menace 10 good
George NJ Whitaker. another De
parliament OF Agriculture expert dis
-lsse1 The transportation. care and
handling of milk from the farmer To the
tHh3 'i-arI5 ana showed that much or
-nr Impurities 10 was found 20 contain
came ABOUT u5 ignorance and careless
p. NJ. santre. from the same depart
mcut, advocated educating the cOnsum-
ets With publicity ON the part OF pro-
dEcers and distributors and a rigid in
rpFeton OF dairy farms and places of
business where milk is sold. He said
one Vital point the proposed bill before
congress needed was that it should
provide Tor tubeFeular tests of mich
cows ana their product-as that disease
was The greatest and srayesU danger in
tAe whole problem OF impure milk.
Dairy Inspections Needed.
Dr. j. T. Turner. Of the District Of
Columbia Health Department. favored
inspection Of all dairy farms supplying
milk 20 this city. the regulation Of the
business by license, and daily inspection
and frequent observations and tests OF
All dairy herds for tuberculosis in It's
early stages. The danger Of cOntagiou
from observation-disclosures milk TO the
human. be said was great He showed
that a large herd Of 125 apparently
robust, healthy cows when casually OBJ
served Tor tuberculosis showed six had
the disease, four were under suspicion
and the others IL perfect health. A
thorough veterinary testf ollowed, show
ing seventy-nlne of the herd with the
disease.
Dr. Turner appealed TO the society and
the public 10 give The Health Depart
ment every assistance to stamp out this
disease and secure FOR Washington a
pure milk supply.