The Washington herald., 1907-04-18
MILK IS TO Be PURER
Commission Adopts Recon-
mendatiOns of Committee.
PUBLICITY FOR THE DIARIES
Plan Is to Protect Infants-BeIieved
Putting Into Eject OF RecOmmen-
dations Would Raise Price of Ar
ticIe-Dairymen Decide 10 Fight
TubercuIin Test--Famine Likely.

BY the adoption of the report Of the
committee on the milk supply of infants,
the milk commission. at its meeting in the
District Building yesterday, took the first
step toward securing for the District OF
Columbia a milk supply equal to that Of
any city in the country,
Among the questions considered was
the establishment of a municipal dairy,
this suggestion being referred to the com
mittee for further consideration. Before
making this recommendation TO the Com
nissioners, it is the intention Of the milk
commission 10 secure, If possible. the CO.
operation of the dealers and producers
in securing certified milk.
Would Publish Records of Diaries.
Pending the time which music elapse
for the Inauguration of the service of
certified milk for infants. the report
recommends that the health officer be
authorized, as the result of his investi-
cations. to publish a list Of dairies from
which the milk supply is drawn. giving
the average rating of each dairy, chemical
composition. and bacterial count Of sam
pies 1t is recommended also that a
complete chemical and archaeological
laboratory be established in connection
with the health Office Of a capacity TO
examine all samples necessary 10 secure
the certified and modified milk.
Among the important recommendations
are the following:
That milk supplied to infants under
three years of age in the District OF
Columbia shall be certified by the health
officer and shall contain not more than
5000 bacteria per cubic centimeter; shall
be not more than twelve hours old, and
shall be delivered in artihcially cooled
packages.
some of the Recommendation.
That the health officer he authorized to
advertise for diaries which viii be willing
TO so modify their barns. stables. &c, if
necessary. so as to secure a license from
him for the production Of certified milk
under the most improved sanitary condi-
tions That each COW be tested under
the supervision Of the health officer for
tuberculosis and other contagious diseases
and that any animal suffering therefrOm
be excluded from the herd. That parents
and guardians be urged 10 use only cert-
fed milk at least for infants under three
years of age. That the term certified
milk Is 10 be applied TO milk received
at diaries subject to a periodical exami-
nation and the products OF which
ara subject to constant analysis. The
cows providing milk are 10 be properly
fed. free of tuberculosis and other con-
tagious diseases. and housed in clean
Z h.
precautions 10 avoid infection and in inn
! mediately strained and cooled and pack
/ ed in sterilized bottles, which must be
/ kept at a temperature Of not over 50 de-
/ grees Fahrenheit.
MIX Would Cost More.
/ In submitting the report of the com
mittee, which consists Of DIT. Harvey ".
/ Wiley. DR.. Percy Hickling, Or. D. NJ
/ Sprigg. Gen. George NJ. Sternberg. DR.
Z. R. Sutt. DIT. W. c. Woodward, and
/ DR.. W. c. Kerr, DR.. Wiley. as chairman,
stated that in the opinion Of the commit
! tee prompt action should be taken in
] order to secure at the earliest possible
moment a supply Of clean, wholesome
milk for infants. It is believed. lie said
that an effort in this direction should take
] DAEEEQEtltE u the EGllElGA EALHAL ~ Sc
cure an improved quality Of milk for all
citizens. 1t is realized, he continued, that
milk of the quality desired will cost more
10 produce and should bring a higher
price than ordinary uncertided milk. At
/ the same time it was hoped that pro-
Il ducers of milk of this kind would en-
deavor TO keep the prices within the
means of the ordinary citizen.
George NJ oyster. chairman Of the COM
mittee on commerce, reported that his
II committee is comforting with the railroad
companies in an endeavor to secure re-
II fTigeTatOr ears for the transportation Of
milk. The commission adjourned, to meet
at the call of the chairman, Gen. Stern
berg.
To Fight TubercuIin Test.
At a mass meeting Of go milk pro-
Gucers of Maryland and Virginia held
yesterday afternoon, in Schmidts Hall
5i9 Ninth street, it was decided 70
fight the tuberculin test for cows. The
reasons given were that the test as de-
vised by Dr. Woodward, the health officer
was not a fair one, as many cows, it is
claimed, respond 10 1t that have not the
slightest symptoms Of tuberculosis. Il
was decided additional counsel should be
employed by the dealers to carry on the
fight against the test, and there was alsc
some talk of a milk famine. Blair Lee
OF Maryland, and Walter Moore, of Vir-
ginia, are the attorneys who were selected
for this purpose.
II was said by a prominent member OF
the association that one-fourth of the
number of cows now furnishing milk for
the District would have to be destroyed
if the test became effective It was also
pointed out that in Cleveland where tbs
test was made a law, the farmers were
/ reCompensed for the cows which were
destroyed on account Of tuberculosis
Does Not Believe Famine Talk.
". c. Woodward. health officer. in com.
menting on the milk producers actor
last night. said:
7 cannot believe that intelligent pro-
ducers OF milk have advocated the delib.
crate creation OF a milk famine I a.
not see how the milk producer could gai1
any possible advantage from such
course. nor do I believe that an attempt
to create such a famine would be sue.
cessfuI. The result of such an attempt
would probably be to lead owners Of cat.
tie located at points more or less remote
fem the Distict to ship milk into The
District. and they would thus be led per
manently into competition with those en-.
gagged now in the milk business.
at has been alleged that the present
agitation LOT a better milk supply is
tending TO induce people to refrain from
using milk, and this may be true to q
certain extent. It seems to me, however