Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-09

is a big distribution and consumption
of milk unfit for consumption through
the carelessness or worse of the milk
man. Obviously. this presents a very
serious situation 10 the milhmen
throughout the country. They are gen.
orally concerned to counterfeit the ma
ton wide indictment of the business.
Personally | see no reason why the
substance of the entire discussion should
not be given to the public. especially as
secrecy in such matters is so liable TO
lead to misrepresentation, but it has been
thought best for the present, especially
as the efforts OF the mifkmen for their
protection are as yet in a tentative state,
to maintain silence.
Difference of Opinion.
At the Cosmos Club the coming fight
between the milkmen and the Depart
ment of Agriculture is said to be under
daily discussion. largely in relation to its
scientific features. There is a wide diff
ference of opinion in that scientific or
ganization. there is in almost all others
of it's kind, as to the merits of the moot
points.
One scientist at the Cosmos Club is
said to have made the remark today that
these people who are germ-excited seem
to forget that through countless years
of existence on earth man has been TAX
ing the germs in milk into his System.
that the human system has become
adapted to them. They do not seem 10
take into account the fact that they are
calling on the human system 10 re-
adjust itself 70 what is at best con-
jecturally improved condition
The milkmen claim that no one can
say that the bacteria found in milk
are harmful. They claim that their
prosecution is on the authority Of one
set of men who @p1etend to speak the
upon which most eminent psychologists
disagree.
arguments in Dade Case.
In the Dade case, which is that of the
Washington dealer who was charged
with selling impure milk. out of the de-
cision of which the conference OF yes
terday grew, il was shown by the milk
dealers attorneys that the bacteria COM
planned of may become free of their en-
vironment. and that the so-called 'hlthy'
environment was not necessary for their
existence. Scientists so testified. In
other words. 1t was testified. bacteria
may be found in milk without filthy
environment. just as bacteria are found
on corn. in fields. etc.
The colon bacillus. which is the
bacterium principally complained of as
| being the greatest monster in milk.
was discovered only seven years ago.
The scientist Escherich found il in an
infant fed from its mothers breast
There was current for a long time a
| is sterile, but recent experiments have
shown that this is an error. and 1t has
been demonstrated that the normal,
| healthy udder of the cow harbors bac-
terra throughout its whole extent and
| that milk comes into contact with
| ba cteria in the lactiferous ducts of the
udder at the moment of the formation
| OF me milk Most recent and careful
! iny.sti:. atoms are said to have de-
stroyed the old notion that bacteria
are not found in the normal healthy
cow.
No Representatives Sent.
The statement was printed this morn
| ing that two representatives of the
DEPARTMENT of Agriculture had at
TEMPTED to attend the milk conference
and had been refused admission. 1t
was stated at the Department of Ag-
| riculture today that the department
4 had sent no representatives 10 the
meeting. as they were not Interested
| in the discussion among the dealers.
| There has been considerable discus
| sion for a long time about establishing
! a standard Of purity for milk. depart
ment oficials declared. but no such
standard has ever been set either in