Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-01
MEANS TO IMPROVE
LOCAL Milk SUPPLY
Special Commission Considers
important Report.
IN A DEPL0RABLE CONDITION
Reference to Dairy Farms and Dis
tributinS Depots.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATION
Tuberculin Test and Veterinary Physi-
cal Examination - Classification Of
Lacteal Fluid-other Matters.
Reference to Dairy Farms and Dis
tributinS Depots.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATION

supply, held in the board room at
the District building this afternoon,
an important report was submitted
by subcommittee assigned to in
vestigate the conditions from hy-
gienic and sanitary standpoints.
According to the report the dairy farms
and local distributing depots generally are
in a deplorable condition and drastic meas
ures are declared to be imperative in order
to obtain a good, safe, hygienic and whole
some milk supply for the residents Of this
city. The committee submitted number
of recommendations which, 1t Is asserted,
IL carried into effect will remedy the in
sanitary conditions and remove all fear of
milk as carrier of contagious diseases.
The fact that milk is a factor in the spread
of disease Is particularly emphasized in
the report. tuberculosis and typhoid fever
are named as the two most prominent dis
eases with which human beings become in
fected through milk.
The committee is composed Of six medical
and scientific men, and their report Is the
result of an exhaustive investigation and
careful preparation of the subject. In con-
sidering the question of typhoid infection
from the milk supply the committee goes on
record as stating that 1t believes that a
large part Of the VI per cent Of typhoid
which the psychologists Of the marine
hospital service reported as unaccounted
for can be attributed directly to dairy
farms.
Important Recommendations.
The most important recommendations
made by the subcommittee include the
%,,ho liz 10 oil Lob,
cows from which the local supply 10 de-
rived: the branding Of healthy and un-
healthy cows; compulsory sterilization of
all utensils and receptacles; classification
of milk; Qualification and pasteurization of
certain classes; the use of paper bottles in
the delivery of milk; the boiling Of all wa
ter, except that above suspicion, used at
dairy farms, and the establishment Of
central pasteurization station to be conduct
ed either by the District government or
private enterprise.
The subcommittee, it Is stated, believes
that II the milk supply Is divided into
classes and an efficient supervision pro-
vided the consumer will be amply assured
of securing clean and uneontaminated milk.
1t is urged that the milk be divided into
classes 1, and 8, as follows:
The specifications for certified milk for
infants to be the same as recommended by
the milk commission and to be known as
class 1.
BY the TuDerCQ11Q lest.
Class to be clean, raw milk from healthy
cows as determined by the tuberculin test
and veterinary physical examination.
Glass to be milk from all other diaries
not able to comply with the requirements
provided for classes 1 and 2. This milk to
be clarified and pasteurtzed at central pas
teurizing plants. which shall be under the
personal supervision of an officer Of the
The classification Of milk was suggested
by Dr. A. d. Melvin, chief Of the bureau
of animal industry of the Department of
subcommittee are DR.. George NJ. Kober.
professor of hygiene, school of medicine,
Georgetown University, chairman; DR.. @.
Lloyd Magruder, school of medicine.
Ter, bureau of animal industry; Emile Ber-
liner, j. H. Webster and DIR. NJ J.
Rosenau, director Of the hygienic labora-
tory.
sorry pasteurization the subcommittee ex-
planned that the advantage Of such Is that
II is cheap and an effective means OF
preventing the transmission Of infectious
diseases, such as tuberculosis, typhoid
fever, diphtheria, scarlet fever, etc, CON-
monty spread by milk. The committees re-
port upon pasteuriZation was prepared by
DIR. Rosenau. "
Much attention is devoted by the sub
committee to sanitary inspection diaries
and distributing depots. That part Of the
report was prepared by Mr.. Webster. The
committee reported that a careful study OF
milk inspection in various parts of the
country conclusively proves that the condi-
lions on the farms and milk depots are
anything but ideal; they are, in fact, about
as bad as it is possible to conceive.
Appliances Often Lacking.
1.-The necessary appliances" the COM
mittee reported. "for sterilizing and cool
ing in milk room are often lacking, making
1t impossible to properly wash and sterilize
pals. cans. bottles and other appliances, or
to properly cool and hold at a low tempera-
ture the milk before delivery.
"A careful examination has been made
under the supervision OF the Department
Of Agriculture Of 727 diaries up to April 5
of the present year. This examination has
taken into account only the sanitary condi-
ton of the farms and does not include the
health of the animals nor an examination
of the water supply. except as these points
would be revealed by observation on the
premises at the time Of inspection.
1.-The average rating OF these 727 daIries.
on the basis of 100 as perfect. was 45.1 per
cent. Thirty-three were above Is per cent
27s between 80 and IS per cent and 4O7
scored less than 80 per cent. But four OF
these places had applied the tuberculin
test. though many stated that the test
would be applied in the near future.
with tested herds and a pure water
supply assured this showing would be de-
plorable. but under existing conditions Of
probable water communications and but
four herds In 727 tuberculin tested, what
shall be said?'
wholesome one.
From Dairy Farm to Consumer.
In reporting upon the transporting Of
milk from the dairy farm TO the consumer
the subcommittee said:
THE shipping of the milk from the
farm until 1t reaches the consumer re-
quires no abnormal care provided that
provisions are made for keeping the tem.
perature OF the milk to or below the ieea,
standard. usually go F.
AFor the District OF Columbia no arti.
fetal refrigeration will probably be re-
CURED from December / to MAY 4 and
when once special cooling devices have
been everywhere introduced these can he
relied upon TO help out almost automati-
cally should warm weather spells occur
in March, April or December
by March 1 the supply of ice can have
been stored on the farm, II from natural
sources. or the river or spring water is
chilly enough to serve for refrigeration
to the legal standard. The law might
even be stretched little occasionally to al