The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-31
CUNNINGHAM RAPS DAIRY CONDITIONS Places Matter Before Com
 mission in Letter ASKS FOR AUTOMOBILE Would Enable Health Department to Keep Closer Watch on Diaries. To Pass Ordinance for Dairy
 Standard Soon
ASKS FOR AUTOMOBILE

's1f present dairy conditions be all lowed to continue there will be many cases of disease as a result states Dr. R. M. Cunningham, city health officer, in an official communication to the city commission. which was received yesetrday. Dr. Cunningham asks for an automobile for the use of the health department to enable the department to keep a closer watch on the dairies which supply milk for Birmingham.
 In the near future Dr. Cunningham contemplates securing the cooperation of the commission in passing an ordi- nance fixing legal standard for dairy products and making all dairies which do not come up to that standard by ac- tual tests illegal concerns and force them out of business. His letter to the commission follows:
 Dr. Cunningham's Letter
 Honorable Board of Commissioners,
 City.
 "Gentlemen: I regard the dairy situa- tion as the most pressing and impor- tant. Several days ago l visited seven daries, and have recently visited 14. None of these reach the ideal or the best practical condition, but some are in fair condition, some in ordinary con- dition and few extremely bad. There Is no way. at this time, of advising the public as to the good, ordinary and bad daries. Nor can it be done until the health department has made thor ough investigation and an inventory Of the condition of the daries. I take 1t as unnecessary to discuss with your hon- orable board the importance of pure milk at all times and its supreme inn portance at this season of the year. l xl.,t NniV V,f n q c n case of disease, at this time, as being due to imperfect dairy conditions, but will say that such conditions exist, and 1t Is a logical conclusion that II allowed to continue, there will be many cases that can be demonstrated to be due to impure dairy products.
 Want Another Inspector
 'I am of the opinion that all daires, during the month of June, should be care fully inspected and scored upon all points involved in the handling of dairy products This requires competent man and care full work, as well as a meteorological ex- animation in the laboratory. At this time, we have one milk inspector, whose time is largely employed in the laboratory. Tho first of June the vacanty in the laboratory department will be filled. which will en- able Mr. James to give his entire time to the inspection and classification of Qa1rleS. By the DfSt ol July we tHliifN we will be in position. if we can get an other milk inspector. to give you the de- tails as to the condition of each dairy that sells dairy products in Birmingham, and will be able to suggest legislation ap- propriate to conditions.
 Most of these dairies are situated off of the street car lines and the dairy in- spectors will have to walk to reach most of them. I sincerely regret to do so, under existing financial conditions of the city, but I earnestly recommend that a Ford automobile be supplied this department, or rented for the next four months.
 'I regard this matter. gentlemen, as grave situation and it is our duty to do everything that we possibly can to estab- fish as nearly ideal conditions as pos sible I am putting in part of my own time in the general inspection of daries, and have ascertained through these in- spections sufficient information to war rant this communication.
 q will say in conclusion that some of these dairies are doinh their best, have q pride in ythe business and are honest in their work and feel the responsibility resting upon them. Others seem to have practical disregard of all things, except the commercial side of the question, and such state of affairs will in the end cause sickness and death to a greater or less extent. I am. with much respect, yours very truly,
 "R M. CUNNINGHAM. M. D.,
 "City Health Officer.'