The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-02-23

milk free from dirt, and to this end we 1 have labored faithfully with the means 1 and facilities available. In a word we 1 have attempted to show those engaged in 1 the production of milk that by absolute l cleanliness it Is possible to produce milk l free from sediment, and in many instances l very gratifying results have been noted We would not attempt to justify unclean i milk, for milk should not contain sedi- l ment, but the statement that nearly all
 milk consumed in this city is grossly pol 1 luted Is entirely incorrect and misleading,
 and Is an injustice to the dairy indus l try Of course any person with reason 1 able Intelligence knows that il is not pos slble for the officials of this department
 to see each bottle of milk sold. but judg- lnB by the quality of the many samples
 examined we feel safe in saying that the mllk offered for sale here Is of reason- able purity and fairly rich in fat l During the year much valuable assist anee was rendered the department by the 1 representatives-Mess A. K. Risser and s. D. Dow-of the dairy division of the bureau of animal industry of the United States department of agriculture These otfieials spent considerable time in the district working in cooperation with the department, looking toward improvements of the dairy industry in the district and the state with the aim of stimulating ] 4ilole 4lltSieSl alOIB the lines Of scientific da1rylng, improvement of the dairy herds the building of more sanitary dairy barns and milkhouses; the construction or silos for the storing and keeping of feeds for the dairy herds Through their efforts and supervision one of the local dairymen built a f1rst-class, 10O-ton con crete silo, said to be the first of it's
 kind built in the state, and plans, speci- ] hcatons and lists of building materials for several dairy barns and milkhouses were supplied by them to the local dairy men, on request of the department. which was done free of charge to the daIrymen The tuberculine test should be applied to every dairy COW supplying milk to this market for the detection of tuberculosis and all animals reacting to the test should be removed from the dairy herds at once. thorough physical examina- ton should be made of each COW for the detection of the presence of other dis eases that would in any manner affect the healthfulness and wholesemeness of the milk produced. The department 1 should be furnished with inspectors enough to do this work thoroughly and to visit the dairies at various times while milking is being done to see the meth- ods used in producing and handling milk If the city authorities expect this work to be done completely in all of its details the necessary number of additional h. epCIlOlS HluSl pe assigned 10 uO the work,
 The fact must not be overlooked that every other department of city govern ment has been provided with additional assistants, while this department has not been given a single additional assistant while at the same time the work has been almost doubled by the addition of bac- teriological department, the work being taken care of with the same number of men as formerly engaged in taking care of the work of meat and milk inspee-
 ton alone. The present director has taken care of all work undertaken be-
 fore he was given charge and the in creased work necessary because of the
 additional duties of bacteriologist while at the same time the scope of the work
 has been increased and carried out on broader and more scientific lines than in
 the past.
 The compensation of the officials of this department is not in proportion to
 the services rendered and it is hoped that the authorities will be interested enough to investigate the nature of the duties performed by these employees and that in so doing they will find that an increase in salary should be given. suitable ordinance should be drawn and enacted into law governing the man.
 ufacture and sale of ice cream. It would
 
 on the sanitary surroundings where ice cream is manufactured and a reasonable standard fixed as to the percentage of fat and the other ingredients that enter into it's composition. During the warm seasons there are a class of people In this city who manufacture a very low grade of ice cream in very unsanitary sur roundings who use inferior and doubtless impure materials and color this product with harmful coloring, giving it a rich and appetizng look, especially to chill dren. This product is carried through the streets in a very careless manner in open carts, exposed to contamination from dust and to flies and placed in cones. It is in this manner served to hundreds of
 school children. This practice should be
 condemned as there can be but little doubt that this product manufactured
 and handled under above conditions is injurious. The manufacture and sale of this low grade of ice cream should be forbidden and proper regulations should be had of all other ice creams and the same required to come up to some
 sonable standard.
 The department made IT arrests for various violations of the dairy regulations
 and the fines imposed in police court aggregated $135.
 The assistant meat inspectors, Messrs. E. Peterman and H. P. Lewis, and As
 sstant Milk Inspector J. c. Jones' de- serve full credit for the faithful and
 efficient manner in which they have dis
 charged their duties In their respective capacities.
 FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
 Receipts
 Meat inspection fees ..............s5.19 .192. .5s
 Dairy license ........................ 1,9OT0O License on dairy depots ............ 160.00
 Fines
 Viola ting ordinance on meat in-
 SpectiOn ....-..-...... DUO
 Violating dairy regulations ...... 135.O0
 Total 42s 58
 Disbursements
 Salaries .$4l4OD supplies .-.-.....-.. 4uS 4b Sundry .................--...... 44f69
 Total........ .................-. ....S4.99615 b
 Difference / =. M ....$ $2 433 SS
 Respectfully submitted,
 E. M. DUNCAN, Chief Inspector.
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