The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-02-22
Why Pasteurize Milk?

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Council who are usually counted on to
be in the vanguard of support of prog
ressive movements, have shown opposi-
ton to the proposed ordinance requir-
ing the pasteurizing of milk in Keno
sha. These men have intimated that
they might be satisfied with a provi-
sion for Qualification of the milk sup
. ply of the city.
1t is rather unusual that these men
would have been willing to vote for
filtration of the water. They should
have been satisfied with the fact that
a screen is provided to keep the fish
from getting into the intake. I'm
doubtedly they would object at the
present time to the use of chlorine in
the city water even though many peo
pie have made wide study of water
publication and they declare that chlor-
mating water is the best possible means
of getting rid of dangerous ingredients.
Of course it might be possible to put
a rag over the water mains and stop
some of the dirt going through, but it
would not go long way toward max
ing the water free of the harmful ty
phoid fever germs.
Pasteurization of milk is what filtra-
tion is to water. Possibly the pasteur-
izing process is bringing just a~little
surer results. When milk is pasteur-
lied, it is heated to temperature of
las degrees and held at this tempera-
ture for a period of thirty minutes.
/ There is no doubt but that pasteurizing
of milk provides protection from patho-
genie organisms. 1t is definitely known
that it eliminates such disease produ-
cling bacteria as bacillus tuberculosis,
typhoid and diphtheric germs and many
others. 1t is the adopted way for treat
ing milk to make it safe. It is not an
experiment or a fad, but a process
that is demanded in progressive cities
for the protection of the lives of the
babies who consume the milk.
In consequence Of the recognition Of
the merits of this process there has
been during the last ten years rapid
increase in the quantity of milk pas
teurized in cities, particularly the
larger cities Of the country. 1t can be
safely said that the general tendency
today is toward the pasteurization of
all market milk. Little of the milk
sold in Kenosha comes from tested
herds, less of it is certified milk. Ger
titled milk is an expensive luxury for
even "king' baby.
Milk may be pasteurized and made
safe without materially increasing the
price at which it may be sold. The
| process does not demand overly great
expenditures for equipment and the
man who has an established milk bust
| ness should be able to provide for such
an equipment without it being too
great drain on his financial resources.
Kenosha pays a price for milk sufi-
| cient to warrant her people getting at
least milk that will be considered
safe. " Inspection of diaries is one
way to insure the safety of the milk
supply, 1t is, however, a makeshift
way and if the supply is to be really
| safeguarded, it must come through en-
forced pasteurization. Many dealers in
Kenosha at the present time carefully
pasteurize their milk. They do it with
| out adding one cent to the cost of it
| and it is unfair to these dealers to
allow other dealers to put on the mar
ket relatively unsafe product and
| charge the same price for it.
| We have said nothing about clarif-
cation of milk because we do not con-
slider it of any value in making milk
safe. Clarifying the milk is a process
for cleaning out of the milk the little
| quantities of dirt which may be gath
cred. All milk should be clarified, but
it should also be pasteurized. Clarif-
cation adds nothing to the safety of
the milk so far as elimination of germs
Of disease is concerned. IF milk is i'm
| pure before it is clarified, the only re-
| suit is cleaned impure milk. Pasteur-
lied and clarified, it must become clean
| and safe milk.
| The ordinance which has been sug-
| gested to the council is not bit more
| drastic than ordinances being enforced
In many of the cities of the country.
1t kenosha wants to do the right thing
by the babies, if it wants to give the
babies chance to grow and grow in
| safety, it must insist that all dealers
pasteurize the milk they offer for sale
in the city. 1t is matter of fair treat
ment to the children and Of fair treat
ment to the dealers.