Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-03
Examinations of Milk.
Prosecutions for Adulteration.

Three hundred and thirty-tWo prOSecu-
lions were instituted because of the sale
OF adulterated milk and cream. Two hun
dred and thirty-seven defendants forfeit
ed collateral, and fines were imposed in
fifty-eight cases. In nine cases personal
bonds were taken, in four the case was
nOlle pressed, in six the defendant was
acquitted and seventeen cases are stlli
pending. The total amount collected as
fines and forfeitures from these cases
was $1,S45.
"A considerable number of milk sam
Piles were collected for archaeological ex-
animation and submitted to the Depart
ment of Agriculture for that purpose.
When The numbers of bacteria were, in
the judgment of the health officer, ex-
cessive, the vender have been requested
to snow caus why he should not be prose-
cuted for selling filthy or decomposed
article of foou, the excessive numoer
of bacteria being taken as an indication
of the presence Of such filth or decom-
position. Prosecutions, however. have
not been brought in these cases, owing to
the newness of the procedure, and owing
also to the Difficult lies attending the CO..
lection, delivery and analysis OF the sam
pies. When the meteorological work of
the health department is organized,
greater activity and more energetic action
will be- taken With respect to the bac-
THEOLOGICAL conten,S of milk
or the seventy-twO samples of butter
examined, .forty-one were found to be
process butter All prosecutions for
selling process butter were dis continued
by the health department. after the Court
of, Appeals decided that the food and
drugs act Of February II. 1893, had been
repealed by the federal food and drugs
act of June 80, 1906.
Death Rate of Babies Lowest.
Much Importance is attached to the
figures in the report which show that
the death rate for last year among in
fants was the lowest the District has
ever experienced. During the year the
death rate Of infants under five years
was 304 per 100000. During the five
year period of 1901-1905 it was $40 and
for the five-year period preceding that it
was 467 per 100000.
Speaking Of the value of these figures
as indicating the general tone of the
community's health, Dr.. Woodward says:
quite aside from the sentimental value
attached to the. protection of infant life,
the death rate among infants and young
children seems. for most purposes, to
be of the greatest Importance. Persons
of this class are least exposed to the
contracting Of disease by personal bad
habits, by exposure to risk of travel. by
dangers 1nclGent TO occupations ana by
other similar conditions, and 1t is on the
health of the infants and young children
that the health of the coming generation
depends. SO long as at least reasonably
complete birth returns were not avail
able-that is. until within the past two
or three years-it was necessary to COM
pute infant mortality on the basis of the
entire population, and therefore compar-
alive data are available only as they
have been computed on that basis"
During the year DR.. Woodward has
given much attention to a campaign of
education Of mothers as to the care of
babies. and the report has several pages
devoted to this subject.