The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-19
Importance of Inspectior

importance OF Inspection.
Our plans for the coming year In
clude the sanitary Improvement Of tho
milk supply.
Further on In the report, DR.. Levy
has this to say OF the milk supply and
It's inspection:
Next to the water supply. the milk
supply OF city is the most far-reach-
eases Not only have we records OF
numbers OF epidemics of typhoid-fe
and perhaps scarlet-fever, so carried,
but. Tar more important than these oc-
tcasional epidemics, is the regular COM
frnpn,,ieation OF intestinal troubles, as
pecially among bottle-fed infants. by
milk which has become dangerous, not
by infection from other with similar
troubles. but which is simply loaded
with bacteria. which owe their pres
dirty cows, dirty barns. dirty pals,
dirty hands OF mixers. delivery Of the
milk without proper cooling, or when
1t has been kept too long.
made Of the milk supply Of Richmond
In August and September. 1905. before
becoming connected with the Health
Department. showed that much Of the
during the summer monthR at any
rate-is utterly unfit for human food,
and esnecially for infant feeding. Since
becoming chief health officer I have
farms. and conditions at many Of them
are very bad indeed: Neither nor the
food inspector has had time to pursue
this work systematically. and there Is
urgent need of Its receiving regular
and thorough attention.
Search for Bacteria.
The Board Of Health, appreciating
things to receive attention during 1907,
and in order to carry the necessary
measures into effect, they have asked
for and received the sum OF $4,000. This
dairy farms an Gr for nsPsetap
animation OF tho milk sold on the Rich
mond market. This last measure does
not take the place of the former. Bac-
only detect the fact that there Las been
improper handling of the milk at some
point, but It does not tell whether the
milk has been handled In dirty man
ner or whether It has :; simply been kept
Further Investigation. therefore, Is al
ways called for where the meteorological
examination shows too high a count.
It's great advantage Is that it furnishes
over a large number Of individual sup
plies, and that the inspector may col
lect samples without warning: thus de-
tecting improper handling Of a milk
special exertlons on the occasion OF an
iinspector.'s visit, and then be as care
less as he pleases in certain directions
until the next visit. After learning that
examination viii show his delinquencies,
although no one actually saw them at
the time. he will be led to the regular
EXERCISE OF greater care.
situated as Richmond is, there is
diaries are excellently-equippe and
mere IS no need Of any milk coming to
t me! from greater distance than a
tory control Of conditions. under . Which
+ 9 Ssess sss t. solve tSs tbs Is
P PFC lem of Of the prosdacers who sell to
have clean, we'll -conducted places, Sit
others are regularly furnishing milk
which must besregarded as dangerous.
IN the subject Of tuberculosis, the
health officer has this to say in his re-
Tuberculosis in This City,
IN no direction Is the contrast be-
IN Richmond more strongly brought out
than in tuberculosis. IN 1905 there
were 23s deaths from pulmonary stu-s
heraulosis (eonsumption), fourteen OF
the de G being non-residants. OF,
l33 colored The colored populations
which constitutes thlrty-elght per dent.
OF the total population, furnished fifty-
seven pertcent. of all the deaths from
n $1,000 { = 81"
Here follows n table showing the re- c
suits Just summarized. and tho report
then continues: From the above It ap-
pears that the death rate from
consumption among the colored people
times as high rs among tho whites. It
Is believed that even these figures do
not quite present the true state OF the
case, A largo number Of colored do
oedents arc Insured In companies which
refnsesto pay It the decelent dies with.
In two years from any pulmonary dis,
case 9 This appeara to be responsible
being SetArned a as due to oths,r e CAUSES a
!, "sitlce there. were cal deaths among
the whites, and l,Ql7 among the olorad
In, 1905, from all eau SEES. one death In
every OF Q among the white populntion
was due to consumption. ana one in
thus showing that the excessive death