Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-24

upon the efforts of the health depart
ment to protect him from bad milk
and the department is powerless to dc
so except in SO far as publicity may be
concerned
THE consumer. therefore, goes or
with the use of milk that should not bt
allowed to be sold. and gives 1T to ms
children. Some of them are fortunate
enough to be able to stand such treat
ment, but others sicken and die, ane
then the parents and relatives wonder
where the disease came from.
Partial Remedy Available.
The only partial remedy available
according to the health department, is
for persons who are interested In the
records of the health department sc
as to know the standing of their own
particular milk dealer.
They may accomplish something
too, by visits to the establishments
maintained by such Dealers" 1t is sug-
gested. although much Of the milk
business at the present time, particu-
iarly that relating to the technique OF
pasteurization, cannot be intelligently
passed upon by one who is not an ex-
pert. The competent housewife, how
ever. could tell from the general man
agement of the dairy in the city some
thing as to the character of the product
sold by it."
MethOuS employed at various nIk
establishments are described in reports
of dairy inspectors and made public
today by the health officer.
With respect to the method of one
establishment to determine the fitness
for pasteurization of milk received
from the farms, the report says:
How Milk Is Tested.
"As the cans of milk are received Mr..
ir,S in,
small quantity Of milk remains in the
top of the can. He then removes the
top, places it to his lips and tastes IT,
in order to determine if the milk is
sweet or sour. Having completed this
physiological" test, he replaces the
top on the can, splits the milk from his
mouth on the floor. occasionally wipes
his mouth with the back of his hand
and is ready for another can Three
cans did not pass this delicate test and
mainder were dumped into the dumping
vat for use"
How delicate this physiological" test
Is can be recognized from the fact that
bacteriological examination showed
that the raw milk used by this estab-
lishment for pasteurization contained
23.2o0.o0o bacteria per cubic centimeter
with 100000 bacilli Of the colon type
and 100000 streptococci. The finished
product. sold as pasteurized milk. con
tanned on the day Of inspection 10000
bacteria per cubic centimeter, 5000
bacilli of the colon type, and 10000
streptococci.
Bottles Contain Bacteria.
archaeological examinations OF tho
bottles at this establishment, supposed
to be ready for filling. showed that
they contained large numbers OF bac
terra. WITH respect to the botti1ne
process. the inspector reported.
Bottles are capped by cappers b,,
on two or three occasions the capper
got out of order, and the CAPS were
then fished out os the tubes Of the can
ping machine. held in the dirty hands
had passed through the capper uncap-
ped were then capped by hand"
The condition of the apparatus at one
OF the dairles' states the report, may be
inferred from the following figures:
The composite sample of milk taken
from twelve cans each containing ten
gallons showed $4,000 bacteria per
cubic centimeter. The sample taken
from the downstairs dumping vat. into
which such milk was poured, shove
2.4so.ooo bacteria per cubic centimeter
and n sample taken from the vat up-
stairs, to. which the milk had beer
pumped, showed 100000 The baciJl
of the colon group. which numbered
$500 per cubic centimeter in the cans
increased in the lower vat to 1000 anG
In the higher vat to 10000. A guar,
bottle of 'pasteurized" milk from this
establishment. filled and capped ready
for delivery. showed rs, 900 bacteria pel
cubic centimeter with 500 of the colon
type. and 100 streptococci."
Concerning another establishment
the inspector reported:
"on the day of inspection, on account
Of the souring of some stored milk
and subsequent shortage on the routes
the first milk that arrived was dumped
into bottling machine, immediately
bottled and, although it was raw milk,
was labeled 'pasteurized' and allowed
to go out as SUCH
Test Of "Pasteurized" Milk.
Samples from pint bottle Of raw
milk sold as pasteurized milk showed
that 1t contained 21.10O,O 900 bacteria per
cubic centimeter. with 100000 of the
colon type and 100000 streptococci
At this establishment a composite
sample was taken from eighteen cans
each containing ten gallons, and two
cans. each containing Ave gallons. A
second sample was taken from the vat
into which this milk was dumped. and
a third sample came from the pasteuriz-
ing tank before heat was applied The
sample taken directly from the cans
contained 35,200.000 bacteria per cubic
centimeter. the sample from the dump
Ing vat contained 39,700,000 and the
sample from the pasteurizing tank con-
tained 64,100.o00. TIE sample from the