The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-01-02
FOR PURE MILK.

FOR PURE MILK.
In his recent report to the city commissioners.
DIR. Paul D. Mossman, of the United States Pub
lie Health Service called attention to the adviss
bity of appointing an inspector for the milk sup
My of this city, recommending system of scor-
ing and recognition for the dairyman who shows
the highest score each month. DR.. Mossman
believes that with the defects of each dairy
pointed out to the owner and the inducement of
publicity, for improvement, that better condi-
lions would result and vastly superior quality
of milk would be offered to the people of Pensa-
COLA
In his examination of conditions here, while
the scoring system not adhered to in the
survey, suggestions and criticisms offered
dairymen and subsequent inspections have
shown that these bore fruit, according to DIR.
Mossman, who thinks that more permanent re-
suits will be secured through this plan than
through Wholesale prosecutions, which he believ-
es would only discourage and antagonize the
dairymen and cut down the supply of milk COM
ing into the city.
Whatever plan is worked out for the improve
ment of the dairy problem, basing opinion upon
the report of DR.. Mossman to the city commits
siners, it seems certain that some steps should
be taken, and at once, to better existing condi-
lions.
According to DIR. Mossman's report he visited
thirty-four diaries once and most of them Of
tener. Twenty-Five of these were located out
side the city limits. DIR. Mossman declares in
his report that of the diaries outside the city
limits, and which from his report greatly in
the majority, that several are quite we'll
equipped and efficiently operated" But that 'the
difficulty with some of them is that they run
by men who have not sufficient capital to do the
thing properly, and not enough training in dairy
ing to know when it is done properly"
Of the diaries in the city, DR.. Mossman says
the majority have only one two cows, and are
not equipped to do dairying properly.
AS regards compliance with the city ordinance,
DIR. Mossman states that out of the thirty-four
dairies examined by him twenty-five did not
have tight floor in the barn; only thirteen had
clean barns, only two had small-top milk pals
ten had flies in the milk room; eight did not have
the milk room screened; while thirteen had no
milk room at all, but did the handling of the
milk, such as the straining, bottlng, ETC., in the
kitchen, on the open gallery, other such
place Very few of the diaries were found to
have adequate facilities for sterilizing of bot
ties, and utensils.
Sixty-five samples of milk from various diaries
were examined by State Bacterologist F. A.
Brink, and of these five showed butter-fat of
less than the legal limit and twelve had bac-
trial count of more than the limit of 500 900
prescribed by the city ordinance.
Judging from DR.. Mossman's report, the milk
ordinance on the statute books, which is ac-
knowledged to be good one, is being paid small
recognition.
There has recently been some agitation for an
increase in the price of milk to the consumer but
If the diaries in the city and nearby territory
are in the condition described by Dr. Mossman
in his report to the city commissioners there
seems no valid reason for paying higher price
for milk that is already acknowledged to be of
inferior quality, if not menace to the consumer
Ii, as DR.. Mossman pointed out, many of the
diaries are being operated by men with INSULT
Gent capital and who lack training to fit them
for the business, and If the careless handling of
milk obtains as the report indicates, it would
seem to be not only advisable, but imperative,
for the safeguarding of the public health, to
take some steps, amicable if possible, drastic, if
need be, and insure at least reasonably pure
milk supply to the people of the territory covered
in his survey.