The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1909-09-15
Depending on The Government

Scotland and First OF England, said
that it was such a relief and luxury
to scratch that nobody but king
should be allowed to have the itch.
Here is a revelation, both of the per-
sonal habits of that day and of the
claims of kingly, sovereign preroga-
tive Oregon needs must scratch.
The problem is one of clean milk
rather than of pure milk. Nature af-
fords the pure product; unclean meth
ods-in dairy, transportation and
household-make the trouble. Milk
is Natures infant food, and when Ma
ture has the smallest chance she af-
fords it clear of evil germs, even If
the COW is more or less diseased. Milk
diseased in the udder is not frequent
and it's sale is rare. Veterinarians
and physicians will not say that a
tubercular cow gives tubercular milk
or that bovine tuberculosis produces
the human disease of the same name.
They freely aver, however, that tuber-
cular microbes enter mix from sur
rounding filth and from unclean hanos
and vessels 1t is possible to guard
milk from disease by observance of
sanitary rules. That is the practical
method. Eradication of bovine tuber
culosis, by wholesale sacrifice of the
animals affected, is not feasible; it is
impossible to prove the disease in
COWS in all cases with certainty, and
the "test" is opposed on the ground
that it itself spreads tuberculosis.
Milk is rendered dangerous to health
or unwholesome by persons who do
not know the virtue of cleanliness. The
sources of filth are more numerous
and prolific for milk probably than for
any other food An official may COM
pei a temporary cleanup or a spas
modic caution. Yet when he goes
away the dairyman is free to pursue
his favorite ways. Recurrent scares
in this matter contribute little to milk
intelligence. Rational efforts will be
directed to teaching and training
dairymen in the ethics of clean milk,
both for sake of the public health and
also for that of their own profit. Clean
milk ought to command higher
price; without this reward a neat
dairyman has little encouragement and
too often has had to quit business.
Several years ago DR.. Woods Hutchin-
son promoted a certified milk pro-
ject; it failed, and some of his fellow
physicians, who now are bowling about
diseased milk (and advertising them
selves fully fought and drove him
out of town. So much for medical
ethics"
Just now, more than ever before in
modern life-though in ancient life
there were parallels-the disposition
is to require and expect the state to
do everything for everybody. Nor
does dependence rest on local or state
authority alone. Increasing numbers
expect the General Government to
take hold of things, and regulation of
the woods and waters and milk of
Oregon is to issue from the National
Capital, either as auxiliary to the state
or superior to it, with more officials
on both sides. The Oregonian's OBJ
jections are summed up in a phrase
that once was the motto of democracy
in America-"The World is Governed
Too Much"
The Oregonian protests against an
increasing army of officials, who &C
complish nothing, nor will nor can.
Dairy methods are dirty, indeed, be-
cause the virtue of cleanliness is not
sufficiently known. Nor can this vir-
tue be enforced by law. 1t must be
Taught anu ledrHeu, anu lHSlSCeu OH ny
users of milk. 1t will be long pro-
cess; and these occasional spasms,
with loud demand for more vigorous
official action, will simply leave the
subject where it was before.
But let us be calm. When this re-
form subsidies, like it's predecessors,
there will be no place for now officials,
except at the salary counter, and old
officials will again repose in peace.
Wide-awake housewives can do more
for the pure milk cause than all the
officehoIders put together. Every eff
fort of such women brings gain to the
nOr,n r,nl1nitN and no calaru Lose Canna