New-York tribune., 1907-03-10
TO GET IDEAS ON MILK.
TUBERCULOSIS IN COWS
Congress VIII Discuss Disease
ODiniOn on PaSteurisGtiOn.

Arrangements are in progress at the present time
for tuberculosis congress. to be held in this CITY,
and there expected to be present Secretary
Wilson of the Department Of Agriculture; DIR.
Wiley chief OF the chemistry bureau of the De-
partment OF Agriculture: the heads of agricultural
departments of each state from which the city is
receiving milk. and numerous meteorological eX-
perts. The most of the discussions will he on the
effect OF bovine tuberculosis on the milk supply.
and the effect Of milk from cattle affected on the
human system.
This congress is in line with the efforts Of the
city health authorities 70 get the best possible
opinion regarding the protection of the milk sup
ply and It IS believed that through the congress
this Information will be gathered in tangible form
for practical use.
There is considerable indignation among the
bacteriologists of this city because of the prefer
ence expressed during the recent milk hearings ana
general milk discussions for foreign authorities II
was stated at the Health Department yesterday
that investigators in this country were fully
abreast of the best work done abroad. In Europe
more publicity given to general research work.
and that was all! In this country, while tho
scientists were doing commendable original work.
II was said they also tad the advantage OF the
foreign Investigations.
The Health Department is perfecting its system
Of instruction for mothers during the late spring
and summer months. This corps, in connection
with the Straus and the milk committee work, is
expected 10 make a lasting impression. As the
bulk Of disease from the improper use OF milk is
among the ignorant foreign poor. this will be very
largely nulife6. it is thought. by the compre-
hensive system Of instruction that will be car
ried out.
Il is not generally known that large quantity
OF skim milk is coming into the city in desiccated
form. This is used by bakers. and many ;hilk
that the original objection 10 skim milk Is re-
moved by desccaton. but the dictum Of the Health
Department makes no exception There are t"o
methods Of desiccation-by the drying by heat and
Of
the shot tower method. the skim milk being forced
through strainers and precipitated. drying IN the
fall TO the receiving trays.
Several grades OF desiccated milk are made a
certain percentage Of so-called butter rat oelhg
added before the process is carred'out This added
butter fat is not the real thing. by any means.
but il passes as such. Some Of the manufacturers
desiccate whole milk. and this detracts little from
its nutritive value. Cream is also treated in the
same way There IS some talk at the Health De-
partment about the evasion of the skim mix
prohibition, and action may soon be taken looking
70 an investigation 10 the extent that the rule
Is being violated
''Fhe New FORK Medical Record had leading
article the economics OF the general pasteuriza-
ton of milk in yesterdays number. Among othsr
things the article says:
The advocates Of compulsory pasteurization seem
TO theory that no good, wholesome InnA
estimated ten or twenty thousand quarts day OF
certified milk. and here is one point az which they
ton as facts. namely, that there are several con-
Germs having many years experience IN super, pty
Yising tho production and distribution or mix
under strictly sanitary conditions from start 20
os S ;bs QTs grade of mS IN New York Constituting
more than % per cent of the total actual mix
II. Tor instance. the average daily milk receipts
for the month Of February IN New YORK were
shown that more than 1900 quarts Of that daily
SGnss Of milk unGe5 s65 aS
managed dairies. further fact capable OK Yer, veT.
hcaton is that Of the dairies supplying this milk
some have been Tor many years ehsasea unGe5 ig5
special supervision In the production OF this kind
The large companies that bottle milk in the
country which is produced under their own super
vision, and have a system Of veterinary inspec-
tion. AL Of which exists in fact and not in theory.
formed that one concern alone opens annually on
the average from ten 20 fifteen new plants IN
Ping @ nil milk int into New York and that these receiving
and botting statiSns M are scientifically up TO date
Now. what would be the result Of general pas
has been going on throughout the surrounding six
states contributing TO New Yorks supply-Ver-
Pennsylvania and New jersey? Woud it mean
that the progressive dairyman would be confronted
with a request 10 step backward, that the public
did not want his sanitary milk, that he had In
vested his thousands of dollars In modern equip
ment in vain and that he must take his loss and
90 back 10 the old slipshOd way OF calling any
pass the butter fat and actometeT tests Of the
board Of health inspector. because the city had
other dangerous qualities OF the milk by pasteuri
The question OF the wholesomeness Of pasteuri-
cation is still open one. with many intelligent
pure, wholesome milk unPasteurized. Is not the
suggestion TO pasteurlze past, milk simply makeshift
is partly wrong. but not step toward the root OF
the matter? Would not the expense necessary for
the CONSTRUCTION Of pasteuriZing plants in the city
be equivalent 70 the cost Of Graduating tubercuous
disease IN the state! II II is tuberculous disease
that we are especially combating. why not get at
it, II IL is maintained that milk is in anv degree
responsible for its prevalence in New York?