The Washington herald., 1907-08-04
COMMENTS ON MILK
Officer Urges Sys-
tematic Tests.
MORE INSPECTORS NEEDED
Would Try Plan of ''CertIRed MIX"
DIR. Woodward Calls Attention To
Recommendations by Milk Confer
ence which He Says DO Not Re-
auire Specific Legislation.

Dr. W. c. Woodward, health officer OF
the District, yesterday submitted to the
Commissioners his comments on the re-
cent recommendations of the milk con-
ference. in which are pointed out those
recommendations that may be acted
upon without further legislation, and
also those which will be embodied IN a
bin for the Improvement of the milk
supply, to be submitted by the Commits
sioners to the next Congress.
The health officer recommends the
adoption Of a regulation compelling the
tuberculin test Of all cattle supplying
milk To the District. but states that in
his opinion the general application OF
test. which means not only testing now,
but systematic retesting at stated inter
vals should be postponed until such time
as it can be made by the inspectors or
the health department or Of the Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Inspection Force Insufficient.
The communication points out that 10 do
such work with the inspection force now
at command of the health officer would
result in the general neglect Of the su-
pervision over dairy farms that it now
maintains.
Dr. Woodward also recommends the
adoption OF a regulation providing that
all reCeptaCIes containing milk in quaint
ties exceeding one quart. for delivery 20
customers, be sealed with a leaden or
sealing wax seal in q manner sausfac-
tory 70 the health officer, and kept 50
sealed until after delivery, except as it
may be necessary to open them for the
purpose Of official inspection.
"Certified MIX" Diaries Wanted.
The health officer Is 70 be authorized
to advertise for dairies and dairy farms.
the proprietors Of which are willing 70
modify their barns, stables. &c. so as to
procure a certificate from him showing
that they are producing what is by the
milk conference described as certified
milk" and the Commissioners viii confer
with the Medical Society Of the District
with reference to procuring the estab-
lishment Of a laboratory under It's super
vision for the preparation and sale Of
certified milk.
The recommendation. under the caption
Duties of Consumers" that systematic
instruction with reference 20 the sanitary
relation Of milk as an article of diet. and
Of other foods be made a part OF the
curriculum OF the public schools, VIII be
referred by the Commissioners TO the
board Of education.
Before hnal action IS taken by the Com
missioners, the regulations as above set
forth will be referred to the corporation
counsel for report as 10 their form. and as
to whether in his judgment II is within
the authority OF the health officer and
the Commissioners 20 promulgate them.
VIII submit Proposed Legislation,
The milk conference viii, during the
corning fail. submit to the Commissioners
craft of such legislation as the confer
ence deems necessary TO properly safe
guard the milk supply Of the District. and
certain recommendations OF the confer
ence looking to an increase in the inspec-
ton force of the health department viii
be submitted 70 the Commissioners by the
health officer in the preparation of his
annual estimates to Congress.
DIT westward also calls TO the atten-
ton OF the Commissioners certain recon-
mendations of the conference for which
Congressional action is necessary
Commissioner Macfarland said yester-
day that he would recommend at once 70
the Commissioners that those recommen-
dauons which Dr. Woodward said could
and should be made effective without
waiting for further legislation. be carried
out. and that the other questions De EN-
bodied in the bill 10 be presented by
the Commissioners to Congress in De
cember. The milk commission, he stat
ed. viii redraft the milk bill presented to
tie last Congress by the Commissioners.
90 as to embody the additional features
recommended by It.