Evening journal., 1912-09-04
AGAIN URGE
LABORATORY
FOR The CITY
City Officials Tell Board of
Health, Department Would
be Great Help
DR.. Robin SPEAKS
FOR THE CHANGE


The Board Of Health yesterday
afternoon again discussed the sub
iect OF laboratory for the city. Dr.
Albert Robin, DR.. II. p. Ewes,
veterinary surgeon, milk inspector
Healy and meat inspector Ford ware
present and gave their views upon
the subject. All were of the opinion
that a laboratory was essential TO
protect the people Of Wilmington.
and that the inspection of meat and
milk was greatly handicapped with
out a laboratory.
Mr.. Healy told the Board that the
laboratory would be OF great use to
MIN as Il was almost impossible for
MIN TO carry out his duties in the
manner IN which they are carried out
IN other cities. because Of the lack
OF laboratory. 81 can test the milk
OF a city for tat and total solids and
test II with acid for preservatives,
but when l find them l must 60 to a
Philadelphia chemist to get the
proper evidence against the milk
man said Mr. Healy.
This morning | had three cases
the milk taken had to be sent to Phil
adelphia TO be analyzed before 7
could prove what it contained" con-
tinued Mr. Healy
Dr. Robin asked Mr.. Healy II he
was satisfied with the dairy inspec-
ton in this state, but Mr.. Healy said
he could not answer the question.
The present law requires an inspec-
ton once a year, stated Mr.. Healy.
Dr. Ewes told the Board that a
State law prohibited the bringing Of
tubercular cattle into the State. but
that such cattle were frequently
smuggled I'm. About per cent OF
the cows which furnish milk to the
people OF Wilmington are infected"
declared DR. Ewes "and many far
mers who furnish absolutely pure
milk to the people are made to suffer
for those who sell impure milk"
Meat Inspector Ford told the
Board that he had found many cases
OF infected COWS. but he needed a
laboratory to have each case anal
yzed to benefit the people. From
/ TO 4 per cent of the cattle sold in
this city are infected but | do not
think preservatives are used, as the
meat Is kept only about a week or 10
days before Il is sold" said Mr.. Ford
Dr. Ewes said the city should pay
for the inspection of dairies instead
Of the farmer. and that the report Of
the inspection should be made by
one man.
Or. Robin in summing up the work
OF the meeting, said:
Past experience has shown that
It Is futile to appeal to Council In
matters Of public health, either to
enact new ordinances or make nee
essary appropriations The Council
men usually keep their ears TO the
ground 10 find out the public senti-
ment before they act IL is necessary
to first acquaint the people with the
facts as ELECTED this afternoon and
then mold public opinion before an
appeal is made TO the Council. It
has been shown this afternoon that
the only thing the milk inspector
can do is TO detect commercial fraud
in milk but watered milk is not dan
gerous TO health. II is far more
dangerous to have dirty milk milk
from tubercular COWS or milk con-
/ taining preservatives. These things
the milk inspector Is unable TO do.
/ HIS inspection therefore Is of no value
] Nndi"NtAt lIOul tue tltHNDOlUi vi Uuu-
/ lie health. It has been shown this
afternoon that from ten to forty per
cent of the meats sold in this city are
tubercular. In addition to tubercular
meat meat may also contain various
parasites. OF even tubercular meat
may be so dressed as TO escape gross
detection, Tho meat Inspector is
unable without the help OF an expert
TO detect diseased meat in a majority
Of cases, and the people do not get
the protection from the meat inspec-
ton which they believe they do. The
Pure Food Law Is and will remain
a dead letter, so long as there are no
means OF protecting impurities and
the authorizations. Turning now to
the direct needs of the Board of
Health. the quarantine of diphtheria
cannot be properly carried out with
out taking cultures from the patients
throats and submitting them to a
laboratory investigation. The time
period OF quarantine. in force at the
present time means nothing so long
as the child with the diphtheria
germs is permitted 20 mingle with
healthy children. Even the disinfec-
ton OF houses in cases of contagious
diseases cantot be properly done
without laboratory control In shori
the Board of Health cannot give the
people the protection they need Sc
long as they have no laboratory IA
citities."