The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-18
DR.. CRuMBINE'S VIEWS,
Makes Statement or the Topeka MIX
Situation.

Replying to an article in Mondays
State Journal, which was made up
mainly of quotations on the milk
question from Mayor Cofran. and City
Commissioners Porter. Tandy and
Newland and included in full q letter
to the mayor from DIR. g. J. Crum-
line, secretary Of the state board of
health DR.. Crumbine says:
DO not care or desire to enter into
q newspaper controversy concerning
the condition of the milk marketed in
the city Of Topeka, but certain state
ments made in Monday nights Jour-
nal are 30 markedly in variance with
the facts that feel it my duty to make
a correction in order that consumers
may know the actual condition of af-
fairs.
The first statement, credited to Dr.
G. F. Babb. former milk inspector, is
that many leading bacteriologists
have come to the conclusion that bac-
tertal counts are of no value in milk
inspection I challenge that state
ment. and undertake to say that there
Is not a reputable scientist in this or
any other country that disregards the
bacterial count in milk. The COM
missioner of public health seems to be
unaware that the commission ap-
pointed by the government to investi-
gate the milk marketed in the District
Of Columbia suggested bacterial
standard for milk: that the American
Public Health association, at it's last
annual meeting, received report from
their MIX Standards' Committee
which had been appointed a year be-
fore, which report was adopted and
a bacterial standard for milk made:
the Milk Standards Committee Of New
York City, in which were represented
the most noted bacteriologists and
sanitarians in the country. has also
adopted q bacterial standard for milk,
and in the cities of New York. Chi
cago, and many other municipalities.
milk carrying q bacterial count above
q certain number 10 required to be
pasteurized before being sold.
Commissioner Newland, 10 that the
samples secured for these tests were
old milk, and that they were shipped
out of the city for testing The facts
are that most Of these samples were
secured from dairymen delivering the
on November 22. 23 and - were in
the hands OF the bacteriologist within
q very brief space Of time, who came
to this city from the Manhattan Agri-
cultural college for the purpose OF
making the count, and the work waa
Board Of Health and at Washburn col
lege in this city; therefore, the high
count was not due to the age OF the
milk. But whether or not the milk
was old. assuming that the dairymen
were delivering old milk 10 aside of the
question, for the determination waa
based upon what sort Of milk was be-
ing delivered to the consumers of the
city, and whether the high bacterial
count was due to filth and dirt. OF
whether it was due to q multiplication
of bacteria, because Of the age of the
sample, makes very little difference to
the consumer. The fact remains that
this is the milk that was being deliver
ed for consumption. and Is q true in
| dex Of the character Of the milk being
supplied.
Another statement made IN the In
terview with Commissioner Porter. II
that sour milk or buttermilk il just
about all bacteria and little else.
These city milk experts have about
as reliable information concerning thii