The Washington times., 1910-10-19

for this city and the retailers who
deliver it to consumers say that the
regulations of the District Health De-
partment have already caused a short
age of milk. They declare, further,
that if the department insists or fore
ing producers to free their herds of
| tuberculous stock, the regulations will
have caused a famine.
1t is reasonable to presume that
milk regulations which have been
found practical for Chicago would be
practical for Washington. Let us con-
slider, then, the regulations of the
Windy City, and see whether we can,
from them, obtain any information
that will assist us in solving our own
similar problem.
The foundation of the regulation of
ChicagO's milk supply is an ordinance,
passed by the city council July l3,
1908. It's principal provision is as fol-
lows:
No milk, cream, buttermilS, or ice
cream shall be sold. offered for sale,
exposed for sale. or kept with the
intention Of selling within the city
of Chicago after January 1, 1909. un-
less such milk or cream or the milk
or cream contained in buttermilk and
ice cream be obtained from COWS that
have given a satisfactory negative
tuberculin test within one year;
provided, however. that from
January l. 19O9y for a period of five
years, to wit. until January l, 1914.
milk or cream or buttermiIk and Ice
cream made from milk or cream
obtained from cows not tuberculin
tested or not free from tuberculosis
may be sold within the city Of Chi
cago If the milk or cream from said
cows is pasteurized according 20 the
rules and regulations Of the depart
ment of health OF the city OF Chicago.
Exactly the same provisions for the
sale of butter and domestic cheese are
laid down in another section.
In other words, Chicago began on
January l, 1909, to establish the tuber-
culin test as a regulation for those
who sold, not only milk but dairy
products of all kind in the city. Chi
cagO is giving the farmers five years
in which to get rid of their tuberculous
stock.
In the meantime it demands pas
teurization as an emergency protec-
ton.
Since January !, 1909, retail dealers
have had the choice of selling milk
and milk products from tuberculin
tested herds or milk and milk products
that had been subjected to pasteuriza-
tion. No other milk or milk products
could be sold. After January l, 1914
all milk sold and all milk contained
in ice cream, buttermilk, butter, and
cheese must come from herds which
have been found, by the use of the
tuberculin test, to be free from tuber.
culosis. Furthermore, the temporary
pasteuTizing must be done as the
health department directs. Here We
have no regulation concerning pasteur.
ization.
The price of milk delivered TO house
holders in Chicago is cents a quart
The price here is Q cents a quart, anC
producers and retailers claim this i,
not high enough to give them a fan
profit.
At the hearings before the District
! Commissioners and the Chamber o.
Commerce committee the Chicago regu
lations may well be seriously con
sidered. If it is found desirable t
put the tuberculin test requirement
into operation gradually we SHOULD
profit by the experience of Chicago anc
make provision for temporary protec
tion through pasteurization. We might
also find it advisable to ask Congress
to throw about all dairy products tn,
regulations which we are just now con
sidering only for milk.
| DISTRICT REVENUES AND AP,
DDnDD