Evening journal., 1918-11-16
MILK LAWS said
TO Be INADEQUATE
Health of City Jeopardized,
Speakers at Chemists
Dinner Say
MAYOR FAVORS A
HEALTH COMMISSIONER

f1EHLln OOflMlOOlOINEN
Members OF the Delaware Section Of
the American Chemical Society met in
the Hotel dupont last night. DR.. C. Z.
Ford, health director OF the General
Chemical Company and C. H. Wells,
health commissioner Of the state Coun-
ell Of Defense were the chief speakers.
After they had spoken Of the present
laws governing the milk situation here
and the lnadequacy OF the milk CODE
Mayor Lawson, who was present, sus-
gested the present health conservation
system Of this city might be improved
If the city physician. the milk inspec-
tor and the meat inspector were sup
piled with proper supervision. Mayor
Lawson said he hoped the time would
come when health commissioner not
subject TO removal by political up
heaval, would be appointed.
Mayor Lawson made his suggestions
after Dr.. Ford and Mr.. Wells had as
serted that the lives Of people here are
in jeopardy by the inadequate milk
laws which were designed for econom-
10 reasons and with conservation Of
the public health a matter Of secon-
dairy consideration.
Mayor Lawson in his address 20 the
chemists said:
Wilmington is less concerned about
its Board Of Health than any other
city in the United States. This is
due TO many things, the most impOr-
iant being the retirement Of the health
body with the entrance Of new ad-
ministratlon and the lack Of proper
supervision at its head.
The Board Of Health now Is great-
ly handicapped II has no laboratory.
no bacteriologist and not until recent
~ was a physician appointed on its
stan. During the recent epidemic the
board had occasion TO make several
analysis. but they had TO be forwarded
20 nearby colleges, because no means
Of doing II here existed. They have as
yet not been returned.
1T Is with the keenest anxiety that
look forward TO the time when a
health commissioner is appointed, here
not 10 be molested by any change or
upheaval politically. We need such a
man badly
Health Commissioner Wells in speak
ing OF the present laws governing the
handling and sale OF milk, said:
Many important points were over
looked in the drafting of the milk
regulations. No pasteurizatiOn or tu-
bercular tests are required 10 place
the milk on the market, making il eX-
tremely dangerous for the health OF
the public. What difference does it
make what the percentage OF solids is
IL no steps the taken 10 prevent dis
case? Scarlet fever, typhoid and diph-
iberia epidemics are almost always
responsible 10 bad milk. Herds, re-
gardless OF conditions, are susceptible
90 tuberculosis.
The trouble with the milk code
here is that the economical side was
considered rather than the health Of
the public"
Governor Townsend who was also
present at the meeting. stated at the
conclusion OF Mr.. Wells address that
il the health OF the citizens OF Della
ware is being jeopardized by ineffect-
i've health laws, steps should be taken
at once 10 remedy them.
Dr.. Ford in his remarks on the milk
situation said:
ness and death than al. other foods
combined. The reasons for this are:
First. milk is a good culture me-
dia. hence bacteria may become nu-
nerous and produce widespread harm;
second. of all foodstuffs, milk is the
most diflcult TO obtain, handle, trans
port and deliver; third. It is the most
readily decOmposible Of all our foods;
f.- lra only food nnfQlnf ~
from animal sources and consumed iA
the raw state.
"Tbe diseases most commonly spread
by milk are: tuberculosis, typhoid,
diphtheria, scarlet fever, septic sore
throat Malta fever, and foot and mouth
diseases. All Of these make a strong
indictment against milk. As rule mix
becomes infected in handling on the
arm, during transportation and not IN
frequently at the point Of consumption
II infected from the animal, the as
eases most common are tuberculosis
streptococcus infection. foot and mouth
disease and Malta fever.
practically all market milk contains
cow dung. and there arc very few dairy
herds free from tuberculosis. II the
nberculin test were universally applied
ana enI0rceu ana ltdctolo u"t ei9POe "
)f. safe milk would disappear from the
market. SO there is no doubt In my
mind that all milk brought to this city
comes from tubercular herds. An eX-
animation of the cows would prove II.
Notwithstanding the technical difll-
culties in recovering. the tubercule
bacillus has been found in market milk
in leading cities ranging from , to 10
ha faaraanf q % of COWS
reacting TO the disease ranging from 1
OF 2 to 100 per cent"