New-York tribune., 1907-10-29
DOCTORS DISCUSS MILK.
CAUSES TYPHOID SPREAD.
Chief Topic of Meeting of Medical
Society.

Problems connected with furnishing the
cities OF this state pure milk and pure water
and preventing the spread Of typhoid fever
were among the scientific questions discussed
az the first annual meeting OF the first district
branch Of the Medical Society Of the State OF
New York. yesterday afternoon.
Several speakers showed the effect impure
milk had in increasing infant mortality and IN
spreading typhoid The difficulties OF obtaining
pure milk were also brought out. with sugges-
tions 10 remedial measures. All the speak
agreed that cleanliness IN the daries was
the essential thing and that more stringent reg
ulntions would have 20 be passed by the boards
Of health Dr. Abraham Jacobi thought much
good would result II country physicians would
be moro active and more fearless IN reporting
cases Of disregard of regulations.
Dr. II. d Pease. OF Albany. director Of the
State Hygienic Laboratory. discussed the trans
mission OF typhoid fever. 20 which he has given
much study. Dr. Pease said that typhoid con-
valescents who sent into the country and
10 summer resorts TO recuperate often
prolific source OF the transmission OF the dis
ease.
The Hudson River a source OF water supply
for New York City treated in the ad-
dress OF DR.. Mann. who also made the state
ment that II would not be many years before
New York would have TO increase its reservoirs.
as the Croton reservoir could not supply
sufficient amount.
DIR. Shelley said the keynote in procuring a
pure milk supply was cleanliness in and around
the dairies Not fourth OF the dairymen IN
Orange County arc stranng their milk in ac-
cordance with the law" he exclaimed.
The importance Of Dr. Shelleys statement
discussed after the meeting by w. O. Phillips.
secretary Of the milk commission OF the Society
for Improving the Condition Of the Poor. He
called attention 10 bulletin recently issued by
DR. e c. Schroeder. superintendent Of the ex-
perimental station in Washington. tubercle
bacinL Dr. Schroeder contends that the chief
source OF danger IN propagating tuberculosis
germs is through cattle.
Many dairists assert 4 straining milk takes
from II all impurities. DR. Schroeder strained
milk which had been slightly contaminated and
in six days the guinea pigs TO which 1t had been
fed died.
Physicians and others who advocating a
closer inspection of New York's milk supply
were deeply impressed with the statements made
by Dr. Shelley. which. taken with Dr Schroe-
der's experiments. they say, prove a that
II will be rather hard TO offset Mr.. Phillips said
II left little room for doubt that the campaign
for fifty more milk inspectors was we'll founded
At present there are fifteen inspectors who
have charge of the districts from which the
city's supply comes. and there fifteen more
I'm the city In view OF the fact that Manhattan
receives milk from six states and almost innu-
merable counties. the champions of a better in
spection feel that little more need be said on
their side of the question.
DIR. S. w. S, Thorn. of Nyack. said the solu-
ton of the problem lay in the formation of SAN
itary leagues 10 enforce the sanitary regulations
in existence and to work for the passage OF
more comprehensive ones.
Infant Mortality in the Summer Months" was
the subject of paper read by DIR. s. f. Getty
OF Yonkers "In the early 90s," said DR. Getty
''the infant mortality greater than the
growth of the town. Since that time 1t has
steadily decreased and one strong reason for this
decrease is tho establishment OF n milk dispen-
sary and the passing and enforcing of sanitary
regulations regarding the preparation and sale
OF milk. The inspection of retail stores where
the regulations of the Board of Health permit
the sale Of milk has resulted in cutting in half
the number of those stores where the sale Is
permitted"
DR. Getty told OF the measures that had been
taken in Yonkers to decrease infant mortality
and the improved methods of treatment In con-
cluson he said that pasteurized milk would al
ways have to be used for babies and that several
years must eiapse before any radical change in
the milk supply could be expected The results
OF the work OF physicians and others In Yonkers
had been TO decrease the death rate OF infants
so per cent.
DR.. Pease, discussing the transmission Of ty-
phoid fever. said. in part
The first preventative of the spread OF the dis
ease is for the attending physician TO notify inn
mediateIy the Board OF Health. that proper pre-
cautions may be taken. That unfortunately is not
ALWAYS done Local physicians are often afraid
TO act promptly. The water supply OF New York
is constantly
cause of conditions in the country adjoining its
aqueducts The only safeguard is the State Board