The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-06-22

In its campaign for pure milk in the
cities OF the country, the Department
Of Agriculture today sent out to the
public hundreds Of copies Of the report
OF the Government committee on sani-
tary relations. originally intended to
deal with the milk supply in Washing
ton.
SO grave have been the dangers found
to be lurking in the milk supply Of the
Capital City that the department feels
that the fruits Of the recent investiga-
tions should be given 10 the country at
large, particularly when it is certain
that the milk supply Of Washington is
notw orse than that Of the general run
of cities.
In speaking Of the opposition Of the
milk industry TO reasonable require
ments. the committee says, in answer
70 criticisms of its policy:
Reply to Criticisms.
The men engaged in this industry
evidently do not know that such hydra
headed diseases as cholera infantum.
scarlet fever, and diphtheria have been
disseminated in the milk supply: that
typhoid fever epidemics have been thus
caused. and that milk may be the vehi-
Gle OF the germs Of the tuberculosis
and other infectious diseases and NOR
bihc agents"
The report Of the department verifes
by many startling statements the sus-
picions which have existed for some
ume that the Washington milk supply
IS source Of danger TO practicsII,-
every milk user in the city. The report
says.
DIR. II. W. Wiley chief of the Bureau
OF Chemistry United States Depart
ment OF Agriculture, reports that during
the last few months his bureau exam
med 521 samples Of milk bought in
Washington, Of which ffty-six. or q
little over II per cent. had been skim
med or watered; and OF ninety-six
samples Of cream, thirty-eight. or 80 g5
per cent, were below the standard re-
quired by law.
z3.5 Per Cent Ad liberated.
The records OF the Health Department
Of the District Of Columbia show that
during the past five year.. 1S.S5g SAMPLES
Of milk were examined. and that of
these 6-s0l, or 23.5 per cent. were below
the fixed standard, and in 300 instances
prosecutions for the sale 'of adulterated
uilk were presented in. the courts.
Matters of this kind should not be
left, therefore, to the individual dealers.
but the principles which ought 10 be
carried out should be embodied IN ef-
fective laws and accepted and enforced
in practical sense"
The report shows that It has been
known for wears that certain diseases
IN the animal are communicable through
milk
During the past twenty-five wears
there lave been publis he'd in the differ
ent medical journals he histories of 1s5
ePldemlcs Of typhoid fever. ninety-nine
ul scarlet fever and -thirty-SiN of diph-
Oherla, ali traceablc t0D the milk supply 20
saws The report
While not holding up the Washington
market milk as infer. i.Or TO that sold in
a NUMBER OF other cities. the depart
EtPt states that It here is abunda mt
CNIuelce 20 Indicate that stale and in
Iected market milk e is everywhere re-
SponSlble for a ueedl ass sacrifice Of hui
man lie. and it is Jrlearly the duty of
the state TO take " vrhat precautions il
~'i' 10 prevent sickne SIS and distress
Question of Temperature.
Dealing with the i'm portant question OF
temperature the reno, rts saws.
The committee on certi6ed milk and
the committee on ss nitary relations OF
the mix supply havt7 both emphasized
the Importance Of cocalinr the milk and
keeping il at a temper -ature below "a de-
grees F, except as I nay he necessary
in the process Of paste surizatior, rr steri-
Ezation, until the mi. TX is delivered tc
The consumer These germs multiply
with astonishing rapi' 1ity whenever the
temperature OF the m Tx Is above 80 de-
grees F., and u diseas 'e germs are pres
ent their prolterauo. augments the
chances OF injection. A temperature OF
% degrees or 90 degrees + F. Will not sub
serve the interests OF public health. :"
CContinued on Sc lcond Paee)