Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-06
LOCAL MILK INDUSTRY
Investigation Under Direction of
Surgeon General Wyman.
INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Correspondence Regarding Conditions
in the District.
BASIS OF OFFICIAL INQUIRY
An Opinion Requested by President
Roosevelt and the Surgeon
General Responds.
AsIs OF OFFICIAL INQUIRY

An investigation Of the milk industry Of
the District Of Columbia from the farm to
the consumer, in the interest of the pub
lie health, is to be made under the direc-
ton Of Surgeon General Walter Wyman of
THE bureau of public health and marine hos
pital service This investigation was
brought about through a letter written by
DIR. G. Lloyd Magruder to President Roose-
welt, and transmitted by the President to
Gen. Wyman for his opinion on the SUBJ
ject.
DR.. Magruder wrote to the President
under date of June IL. 1907. as follows:
I'm view of the agitation that is now
going on in Europe and this country with
reference to the question of the influence Of
milk upon infant mortality, as well as the
scarlet fevers and diphtheria, 1 would re-
spectfully suggest that you direct the bu-
reau of public health and marine hospital
service to make a thorough Investigation
of the milk industry in the District of Co.
lumbia from the farm to the consumer.
For this purpose the bureau should be en-
powered to have the cooperation of other
departments of the government, and proper
credit should be given for such aid.
Several foreign governments have re-
Gently ordered such Investigations, and
in the United States upon these subjects.
These writers have expressed many diverg-
ent views.
Recent Investigation Here.
THE recent investigation conducted by
the bureau of public health and marine hos
pital service into the cause of the preva-
lence of typhoid fever in the District Of Co.
lumbia, which report, including an examina-
ton of the milk supply in the city of WASH
ington, has been printed and will be issued
IN few days, and the work of the De-
partment of Agriculture concerning the
milk supply at the farms, have shown that
many lives could have been saved and nu-
merous cases of disease avoided by more
careful attention to the health of the dairy
men, as we'll as the cows and the handling
of the milk at the farm, in transportation
and distribution in the city.
Much valuable information has been ac-
cumulated by both departments. which can
be consolidated and developed so as to be
utilized as a standard not only for the Dis
trict of Columbia, but for the United States
This standard is very essential at the pres
ent time, and, with the facilities at the dis
posal of the United States government
should have equal weight with that of any
other government.
1T can be readily shown that much can
be done to improve the milk supply without
materially adding to the cost to the farmer
and thus to the consumer.
The report of such an investigation
should be freely illustrated that it NAV
serve as an educational document"
Gen. Wyman's Response.
Replying to this letter Gen. Wyman Jun.
10 wrote to the President as follows:
Il have the honor to acknowledge re-
ceipt. through Secretary Loeb of the COM
munication of DR.. G. Lloyd Magruder, in
which he recommends that you direct the
h,,,a
pital service to make a thorough investi-
CATION of the milk industry of the Dis
trict of Columbia from the farm to the
consumer.
Secretary Loeb informs me that you de-
sire an opinion as to whether such an in
veStigation should be made
DIT Magruder properly emphasizes the
Importance OF a pure milk supply, and the
attention which this subject is receiving
throughout the country at the present time
The sanitary supervision of milk supplies
formed one of the subjects of discussion
at the NTH annual conference of state and
territorial health officers, with the surgeon
general of the public health and marine
hospital service May 49, 1907. 1t was the
sole subject of discussion in conference
OF the various medical milk commissions of
the United States, held at Atlantic City,
June 3, 1907, and also Of symposium in
the Section of Hygiene and Sanitary Sci
ence of the American Medical Association
during the present month.
for much of the intestinal morbidity and
resulting mortality among infants
1t is an excellent medium for the growth
OF bacteria and undoubtedly acts as the
dlphtheria, scarlet fever and typhoid fever.
Relation of Milk to Disease.
The relation of milk to the spread of the
last named disease received careful study
during the summer of 1906 by a board of
officers of the public health and marine
hospital service appointed to conduct an
investigation into the origin and prevalence
of typhoid fever in the District of Column
ba 1t was determined that milk was the
agent of transmission in 10 per cent of S66
cases studied. In addition it was shown
that the bulk Of the milk sold in the Dis
trict during that period was too old too
warm and dirty. A report to this effect,
which is contained in hygienic laboratory
bulletin No. 30, was made to the Commits
sioners of the District, and had an infiu-
ence in the renewed demand for improved
conditions. An advance copy of the above
mentioned publication is forwarded under
separate cover.
There are a number OF other sanitary
problems connected with the production of
milk, which have an important bearing on
the public health not alone of the District
but of the country at large.
Basis Of the Report.
ed by DR.. Magruder would form the basis
of report which would serve as a stand
ar. in the sanitary supervision Of this i'm
portant industry throughout the country.
I'm this undertaking some cooperation Of
the bureaus of animal industry, plant in
dustry and chemistry of the Department of
Agriculture, with the public health and
marine hospital service, would be of special
value. The advantage of such cooperation
was shown in the work of the recent milk
conference called by the. Commissioners of
the, District to consider the necessity and
character of further legislation to improve
the milk of supply of this city
Il am informed by DR.. Magrudei, with
whom l have conversed the subject
since the reference of his letter to me by
Mr.. Loeb, that he has discussed the matter
with the Secretary of Agriculture, who ex-
pressed his interest and desire to cooperate
with this service in every manner possible
in the prosecution of sach an investigation.
Information Accumulated.
The Agricultural Department has al
ready accumulated valuable information in
regard to conditions at the dairy farms
from which milk is supplied to the District,