Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-19

'ompHShed, as follows:
The committee on the sanitary relations
OF the milk supply, to which referred
May a letter from Mr.. F. r. HOrner,
member of the milk conference. and pre-
scented to the conference at its meeting
held May l. begs leave to submit the fol-
lowing report
The committee believes that Mr.. Horner
is perfectly honest and conscientious in
his views and doubtless has the best inter
ests of the community at heart. On the
other hand, the consumers of milk, and
pecially the innocent and helpless babes,
have some rights, and public health de-
mands that the facts concerning milk in
relation to disease should be presented and
remedial steps taken at the earliest posi-
bic opportunity.
Substance of Report
The report states:
1T is remarkable fact that every at
tempt to improve the purity of this invaIu-
able article of food should be promptly
opposed by the milk industry which consti-
tutes strong spoke in the commercial
wheel ana evidently considers 1t meddle-
some interference with their trade These
men evidently do not know, and cannot
know, that such hydra-headed diseases as
cholera infantum, scarlet fever and diph-
iberia have been disseminated in the milk
supply; that typhoid fever epidemicS have
been thus caused. and that milk may be
the vehicle of the germs of tuberculosis
and other infectious diseases and morbific
agents.
Pure natural milk can only be secured
at diaries with sanitary buildings, a pure
water supply. healthy, wel-fed and we'll
Cared-for cows. a well-equipped and we'll
Kept milk room. provisions for thorough
cleanliness intelligent and conscientious
people IN charge and clean methods through
out There are a number of persons,
thanks to the training received at the
dairy schools, who make an honest effort
TO place on the market milk obtained under
such conditions, but by far the majority
are indifferent to hygienic requirements
ana would prefer the good old DAYS when
there was control even to prevent the
shameful authorizations of milk by the inten-
uonal dllution with water, the removal of
some or Its cream, the addition. of
SKINNED milk, practices which alas still
exist.
After declaring that honorable men will
not object to regulations calculated to pro-
mote purity of milk and the health of their
customers the report continues:
Cause of Disease.
Il. 1t has been shown by the most pains
taking Investigations extending over a long
period of years that certain diseases In
the animal communicable to man
through the medium of the milk this espe
clally true OF tuberculosis, foot and mouth
disease, anthrax and @owpox, and that dis
eases Ike garget, gastro-enteritis and sep
NC IeSers IN the COW will render the milk
morbifc to man.
80 1t has been shown that animals
or have been treated with strong medical
: ments for any or all causes are disqualified
from producing pure or sound milk
3. 1t has been shown that during the
past twenty-five years there have been pub
lished in the different medical journals the
histories Of 1875 epidemics of typhoid fever,
SO of scarlet fever and Sc of diphtheria ali
traceable to milk supply.
In the recent exhaustive investigation
conducted by the highest health authority
in this country. viz, the bureau of public
commission definitely traced So of the S66
cases of typhoid fever (about 10 per cent?
in this District to the use of infected milk.
a. 1t has been shown in former report
that about one-fourth of all the children
born perish before the completion of the
first year; that nearly one-half of the
deaths in children under one year of age
are caused by CASTRO enteric diseases,
chiefly infantile diarrhoea. and that OF the
54,047 infantile deaths which have been in
vestigated at home and abroad with refer
ence to feeding, S6.6 per cent had been arti-
ficially fed, all of which points with more
than mere suspicion to the fact that the
morbific agent is introduced into the body
with the food Cows milk.
Washington Market Milk.
THE Washington market milk compares
favoraby with the supply in other cities;
there is no evidence to show that 1t is
worse. but there is abundant evidence to
indicate that stale and infected market
milk is everywhere responsible for need
less sacrifice of human life and 1t is clearly
the duty OF the state to take what precau-
tions II can to prevent sickness and dis
tress. To indicate the value of sanitary
control in this city ii may be stated that
since the enactment of a pure milk law In
1896 the percentage of deaths in children
under one year of age to the total deaths Of
all ages has been reduced from 1854 to
1886 in 1905.
Should Be Borne by Consumer.
THE use of ice will result in a slight
increase in the cost. and your committee
is not unmindful of the fact that while
everything else may advance in price with
out serious remOnstranCe. louo "utcrles are
made whenever a progressive dai:S man de-
clares that the production of clean whole
some milk involves advance of one or
two cents a quart
The inspections made are unannounced
and at irregular intervals so as TO insure
maintenance of the prescribed standard.
ANY neglected condition is Immediately
reported to the commission. which decides
whether or not the cause is sufficient to
withdraw and cancel the last certificate is
sued.
your committee is aware that even with
such precautions accidents are liable to &C.
cur but to insist upon inspection of the
cow before each milking might very justly
be characterized as unreasonable and as
fad Of theorists, i
1iCertified milk is reasonably safe, but this
is no guarantee that 1t may not occasionally
contain germs of disease, and those who
desire to guard against this sngnt FISK
should pasteurize II in the home.
= Pasteurized Milk.
1T must be apparent that 1t will require
time and education to secure compliance
with even reasonable safeguards and it is
equally evident that the number of dairy
farms now in a position to live up to sani-
tary requirements Will supply but small
percentage of the population, although it is
hoped that they will be stimulated into ex-
istence by trade competition and the
fusal of the public to buy dirty milk at any
price
Until this is accomplished the committee
in the interest of public health, strong
ly advocates Qualification and pasteuriza-
ton of all milk This, to be sure, will not
make bad milk good, but 1t will at least de-
stroy its power to transmit disease germs.
Pasteurizing Milk Depots.
"Your committee also believes that this