Putnam patriot., 1917-07-27
Publication of Milk Reports Discussed
nr DeyIbiss Supports State Dairy and
 Food Commissioner
Written by the strolIer)

tssneak and see what has been gained b, inc program of the past week. Many speakers appeared on the plat forn1 and delivered their messages 10 patnam citizens. All of them spoke words of wisdom. But il is of one in psrticular that the Stroller wishes to arife-Dr Lydia Allen De Nilbiss, head of the bureau of child hygiene on inc state Board of Health, Kansas, whose talk on Saturday afternoon, uTbe Business of Living" was by far, in the Stroller's opinion, the finest and most instructive on the whole pro- gram
 Dr. DeVilbiss spoke many words of interest but il is with her conference et the close of the address that this article deals. At this conference Dr. De Vibiss answered all questions that those in the audience wrote and passed I'D 10 the platform. That there is in- teTest in the matter of publishing in our local papers the monthly reports
 
 he number Of questions sent to the doctor on this matter. Dr. De Vilbiss' answers were Illuminating and seemed 10 bit the nail on the head.
 The first question on the sub- feet read: "Should milk reports of Inc local milk inspector be made PUBLIG?n It said nothing about publishing them irf> the papers. It is evident from the applause that the answer brought forth, that many peo- pie who favored the publishing, thought that the question did refer to making the reports public through the medium of the press The doctors answer was to this effect: "By all means make your milk reports public. has the matter in charge, refuses to make the reports public you can be sure that there is nigger in the wood pileu Now as matter of fact the reports of the Putnam milk inspector are made public; they are public prop erty, and any person in this city has the right to go to the office of City Clerk Ryan and read the reports to his hearts content. There can be no com. paint on this score.
 Later the question of the value of milk reports came up and again the doctor had Illuminating words in ans wer. According to Dr. De Nilbiss un- less the samples of milk are taken un- der flair conditions they are of little value. This impressed the Stroller for 1t seemed to him that 1t was perticu larly applicable to the situation in Putnam, and is in support of the stand taken by the State Dairy and Food Commissioner.
 If the reports are made under unfair conditions to the producer they are of no value, and the Stroller believes that they are at present so made in Put nam. Our milk inspector cannot be criticised, because he is doing his work as best he can. But dealers have sam' pies taken only about once month, sometimes not even that, and after the samples are bottled, which is often done on the main streets where dust and germs are flying about, the bottles are taken Ito the express office where they remain until the next train for the city where the examination of the samples takes place. Dr. De Nilbiss sadIin her lecture that to make re- ports worth while they should be talk en very frequently and should be ex- amined at once in a local laboratory. If this Is not done the reports cannot be considered fair And if the reports are not fair it certainly is an injustice to the dealers to publish them in the local press.
 The question of the wide variation of the reports in Putnam was considered. How is it that a dealers report one month will be "illegal" and few days later will be "very good2" And this Is where the necessity of frequent re. ports comes in. Dr. De Vilbiss said that the least little thing will cause the bacteria count of'a sample of milk 10 rise rapidly. Milk that stands un- protected in the sun few minutes Will have a higher count than milk that does not. If this is the case are he once. a-month methods O. testing Putnam dealers milk fair to the deal ers9
 The Stroller is not opposed to the publishing of the reports from month 10 month-if the reports are fair. pr. De Niibiss has set forth what consti- 'ules fair method, but the Putnam method would not pass if the standard set oy the doctor is accepted. Unless Ae reports are amounting to some- ming 1t is waste of city money 10 pay milk inspector as is now done. mere must be means of finding out *nether our milk supply is good or Aoa, snd also of finding out if the way 'ests are made are fair to the dealer or not. It certainly is to be doubted 'nethef the present reports amount to anything. If :Dr. De Vilbiss is taken
 an authority, they certainly do not.
 such IS the case it is evident that, as .ue doctor said, it is unfair to publish he reports.
 s'o'e Says Little of Healing An.
 lrnH nHFre