The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-10-18

4 supply of pure milk made a municlpa
function as much as the supply OF pure
water. There can be no question but thai
the supply of milk everywhere should be
pasteur!zed, not only that intended for In.
fants. since the use of raw milk for adults
is almost equally fraught with danger.
1t has been said that the DISCRIMINATION
of milk will not destroy the tubercle ba-
cillus, but this assertion must have been
made by some one not familiar with the
process of pasteurization, or not familiar
with the proofs on the subject.
Scientists agree that a temperature of 16'
degrees for twenty minutes will destroy
the tubercle bacillus. DIR. Smith. of Bos.
ton: Pearson, of the University Of Penn
/ sylvanla: Bang, of Copenhagen: Russell
of the University of Wisconsin; Moore. OF
the New York state agricultural depart
ment. and Ravenel, of Philadelphia. al.
eminent scientists. are a unit in agreeing
upon this. And as in the process of pas
teurization the milk Is heated to a tenn
pera,ure of 1855 degrees. and kept there for
twenty minutes. it follows that the tu-
bercle bacillus must be destroyed.
1t it were possible to secure pure. fresh
milk direct from absolutely healthy COWS
in any large city, there would be no ne
cessity for Discrimination.
II 1t were possible to establish a system
Of public inspection and examination of
mill, which would prevent the supply OF
polluted milk, there would be no cause for
paSteurization
II it We're possible by legislation to OBJ
tain IL milk supply from clean stables, af-
ter a careful process of milking. to have
transportation to the city in perfectly
clean and close vessels. then pasteurization
would be unnecessary.
But l am compelled to conclude, after
years of study that these conditions are
absolutely impossible of attainment.
Corrective laws have been passed, med
ical societies nave directed their energies
to a bettermcnt of conditions, but l do not
think it will be denied hi a very large
proportion of the milk now sold In New
York city is unfit for consumption.
No agitation for a better milk supply, by
whatever methods attempted, can be with
out good result, but | have preferred to di-
rect my work to the attainment of positive
results, and these l know can be attained
by pastcurlzation only.
While efforts directed toward the pre-
Nention of contamination at the source OF
supply are attended by many difficulties.
and the net results, therefore, are ex-
trernely small, such efforts should not be
abandoned. On the contrary. even though
milk be pasteurized and I believe the time
will come when the entire milk supply OF
a. large cities will be pasteurized, there
should be no relaxation of vigilance to pre-
vent initial contamination.
In the course OF years human ingenuity
may have found a means of entirely elm
mating the disease; 1t is for us to do our
share with the light that is given us.
Scientists play their part in adding to
the sum total of human happiness, but
the layman has no unimportant role. I be-
lieve the solution of the question before
us is not scientific but practical. 1t Is not
cure--it is prevention.
Public opinion is the greatest force in
human achievement today, and when the
public have been sufficiently aroused to
the fact tina the prevention of disease is
quite as essential as the erection and
maintenance of hospitals for the cure of
disease, we shall nave the first requisite
for Intelligent legislation on this subject.
Since the fact can easily be demonstrated
that the conditions surrounding the milk
supply of our city entail an appalling PEN
atty of suffering, disease and death, sure
ly prejudice. ignorance and criminal neg
lect of obvious precautions must nave had
their day.
The following table compiled from the
official statistics OF the department of
] health shows the infantile death rate of
, New York City in the year preceding tho
! opening of the Nathan Straus pasteurized
milk depots, and during the fourteen years
in which that work has been systematical-
Iy directed to the saving of infant lives.
I Population, deaths and death rate OF
children under s.: