New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-13
Something on Milk
How to Secure Safety, Decency
and Nutrition

THE MODERN MILK PROBLEM By j. Scott
MscNutt LIMO. pp. 2j3. The Macmillan Jon
Since science has disclosed that cpl
denies of such serious diseases as
typhoid fever, diphtheria, septic sore
throat and possibly infantile paralysis
are directly traceable TO impure and
unclean milk, the problem OF an un-
contaminated milk supply has come TO
be recognized as most important one.
For the task of considering this prob
lem Professor McNutt Is well qualified.
As Instructor in the biological! and
putlc health departments Of the
Massachusetts, Institute of Technology
he has dealt with the scientific side or
the subject, while his work as Health
Officer in Orange, y. j., and as men,
Der OF the Board OF Examiners OF
Health Officers and Sanitary Inspect
ors of New Jersey has crystallized his
research labors into very practical ex-
perience.
The Modern Milk Problem" is so
clearly and logically written that 1t
can be easily understood by the verlest
layman. IL contains wealth or inter-
esting and valuable information. The
author goes into details as to the
sources and causes OF milk contamlna-
ton, taking up IN turn the matter or
milk as carrier of disease, dirty milk
ard milk containing low grade OF
nutrition. He states that pure milk
may BIO summed up IN three words:
safety, decency and nutrition" Now
that the old-fashioned method OF ped
ding by producer 70 consumer, from
tall unsierilized can 70 small often un-
sanitarily washed crock, has practi-
cally passed cut of existence, the prob
lem OF distribution has grown more
and more complex. This volume deals
with il at length in a sane, common
sense fashion.
One of the most interesting things
in the book is the account Of the eff
forts, now we'll past the experimental
stage, Of Dr. Charles f. North for bet
ter milk. DR.. North's idea was not to
force the farmer to tear down the
buildings that he had and replace them
az great cost with modern ones, but
to render the old cowsheds fit TO pro-
duce clean milk. SO he formed COM
parry which has operated milk-ship-
ping station at Homer, y. T., since
1910. This has been supplemented by
others in Maryland, New Jersey, New
York, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Be
ginning with the product Of three
farms. about 500 quarts of milk, in two
years the output of one plant was more
than 10000 quarts. The backbone of the
system is the principle Of centraliza-
ton. Each farm Is a separate unit,
where milk is produced under the di-
rection Of a central plant and under
prescribed conditions OF cleanliness.
The central plan. receives the milk,
cools. sterilizes and ships il. Here all
the farmers milk pans and cans are
washed, sterilized and dried. All dairy
employees and all cattle are inspected
under the direction of the managers
of the central plant. Chemical tests of
the milk are made. and payment to
farmers is based on richness and the
sanitary character of the milk, as
shown by bacterial tests and chemical
analysis.
To secure safe and decent" milk,
Professor MacNutt says, there must be
cooperation health officers must adopt
improved methods Of sanitation; legis
lators must put aside partisan inter-
ests 70 authorize such regulation by
legislation; the farmer must be ad
vised by agricultural authorities of the
best methods of producing sanitary
milk efficiently; the dairy farmer must
welcome and avail himself of this as
sstance; the dealer must respect the
interests of the farmer, pay a fair
price for the milk which he handles,
and work for their common interests,
and the consumer must recognize
quality in milk. be willing to pay
fair price for good milk and reason
ably higher price for better milk.
The book has a number Of valuable
appendices, one OF which gives in de-
tai the various efforts made locally in
different parts Of the country to Sc
cure high milk standards.