The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-03
TESTS ARE MADE
 OF WATER IN CITY
Several Wells Found in Very
 Bad Condition
HYDRANT WATER IS GOOD
Inspectors Claim That Dairymen Are Delivering Mllk at Too High Tenn perature-Customer Should
 Insist on Cool Milk.

The monthly report of the work of D. M. Duncan, city bacteriologist and chief inspector, contains the result of tests made on the following:
 Twenty-seven specimens of water from wells.
 Ten specimens of water from city hy- drants.
 Twenty-seven specimens of milk.
 The results of the tests from the hydrant water were very satisfactory.
 The tests of water from these wells were made on the request of Dr. Hark- ness and Mir. Burson of the health and sanitary departments. as in their tours of inspection many of these wells appeared to them to be very unfavorably located, rel ative to sanitary surroundings. The tests in number of cases showed that many of these wells are badly contaminated. I am also preparing to make the chemical tests of these waters in the volumetric determination of the percentage of chlor- inc present. An unusually high percent age of chlorine would be a further as surity that such wells are contaminated by surface drainage as the result of an unfayorable sanitary surrounding indl- eating that the excess of chlorine was derived from the wash waters from kitchens, containing sodium chloride.
 A number of the meteorological tests of, milk were very satisfactory thus show ing that 1t Is easily possible for darymen to produce and handle milk to be served to the public that will come within the minimum requirements on the limitation of bacteria.
 Some tests were made of a powdered form of formaldehyde that was being recommended for sale by an agent to the sanitary department as fumigating ma terial, 1t being claimed that this prepara- ton was much more powerful and eff cient as a Immigration and dsnfectant than the 40 per cent liquid commercial formaldehyde, generally used in fumiga- ton. Two series of tests, with ten spec imens infected with an ordinary pus germ were made, and in one of the tests, twice the amount of the powder, so claimed formaldehyde was used as that recom- mended to be necessary to thoroughly disinfect an average sized room. After a proper microscopic test after the spec imens had been exposed the length of time as said to be necessary, not a single specimen out of the ten was found to be sterile, thus proving that the powder would not do what was claimed for 1t, thereby enabling the sanitary department to be governed accordingly. Part of Inspector Duncans report con- tains the report of Assistant Milk Inspec- tor Humphrey, which has the following to say of dairies inspected F. Goldstein-Condition not satisfac- tory.
 w. P. Walker Oak Grove-Better drain age needed at back of barn and barn needs to be whitewashed. New brick milk house being built and general im- provements being made. c. A. Shomberg-General conditions are poor much improvement needed. J. A. Kent-Rather poor barn, general conditions only fair. New barn will be built shortly.
 Capt Stramler (col.)-Drainage at back of barn very bad; notice given to make improvements at once Some work is needed inside of the barn. Conditions generally have improved.
 G. IT. Campbell-Poor barn, and drain age not very good. Barn must be white washed. Fairly good milk house. Gen eral conditions only passable One cow in bad health
 s. L. Brewster-General conditions fair ly good
 Isaac Towns-More attention needed to things in general. MIX house needs to be screened and whitewashed. Troughs needed in barn for cattle to feed from. P. M Watts-Conditions better since last inspection; chief fault is poor drain age
 w. B. Baker-New barn has just been built which has cement floor and well drained Mlk house Is not very good, but a new one will soon take it's place. Much improvement has been made since last inspection.
 w H. Wiles & Sons-General condi- tions rather poor, but milk well handled.
 Chandler & Acknowledgement condi- tions and surroundings poor. F. T. Welsh-Barn not very good; needs whitewash and more light. Good milk house, but needs to be screened. MIX well handled and general conditions fair. The report continues:
 The temperature of milk being deliv- ere, Is generally speaking too high, only a few of the dairymen delivering sweet milk keep the temperature low enough. If the general public will insist on milk being delivered cool, 1t would be benef- cial to them and also help the depart ment.
 The vegetable season is now opening. and some dairymen are apt to be negli- gent of section 355 of the city code, which requires vegetables to be carried in separate apartment from the milk. This law will be enforced and arrests will be made when said section is not needed
 More interest Is being taken generally among the dairymen and much improve ment Is being noticed.
 The addition of horse and buggy to the department is a great help.