Evening journal., 1919-08-14
Open Fight FOR
Pure MILK SUPPLY
IA Dealers Told Supply
Must Contain Less
Bacteria
MISLABELlNG OF
BOTTLES ADMITTED

Wilmington we must" said Charles II.
Wells, State Health Commissioner at a
hearing given fourteen city milk deal
ers this morning, who had been charg-
ed with selling milk containing from
10000 10 100000 bacteria.
The hearing was held In room to3,
Public Building. and was well attended,
a number OF those interested In the
milk supply OF the city being in at
tendance as we'll as those summoned TO
answer 10 the charges Of selling impure
and dirty milk. The hearing was In
charge Of Mr.. Wells. assisted by Slate
Chemist Watson. Mr.. Wells announced
that DR.. Conwel, secretary Of the State
Board OF Health, who had called The
meeting was unable 10 be present.
Arrayed on the table were large
number OF dried samples OF milk taken
by Or. Watson from the various deal
crs, which TO the naked eye was sufll-
cient evidence that some dealers are
selling very poor and dirty milk. For
the purpose OF prosecuting the dealers
II such may prove necessary, stem
ographer took all testimony given by
the dealers
At the close Of the meeting Mr.. Wells
and Dr. Watson stated that consider
able amount OF evidence has been OBJ
tained against many other dealers in
this city and those furnishing milk 10
tho dealers. and that II is their inten-
tion 10 have another hearing within
few days.
we propose 10 give these dealers
called here today, another opportunity
to sell the right kind Of milk" said Mr..
Wells. but II they fail 10 do as we have
suggested. you may rest assured that
prosecutions will follow and someone
viii 20 10 jail The milk situation here
ls far from satisfactory and II Is our
purpose 10 see that 10 Is bettered. II
Inc dealers will cooperate with ms all
will be well. but II they fail there VIII
surely be trouble for somebody.
In pasteurized milk 100000 bacteria
is the maximum amount permissible
under the state law. in raw milk 5000
and good milk. properly cared for
should contain 10000 or less As the
evidence produced here today shows
some OF tho samples contained bacteria
far in excess Of the figures named, you
NAV draw your own conclusions An
other matter which some seem to con-
slider as a Joke. but will prove 10 ne
far from a ioking matter II dealers con-
iinur I'm the practice. Is that OF lmprop-
crlv labelling bottles. Many of the deal
ers arc using milk labels that state the
milk has been pasteurihed when II mas
moi boen pasieurized. and this Is mol
loniv "a violation OF the stale hut also
the Federal laws. and many result I'D
some one being prosecuted II the prac-
tice is continued ,
The first ease called was mat OF
Fred Flauza. who stated that he dlo
NOT pasteurize his milk but had labeled
~ az bcing pasteurized. His reasons
FOR such marking. he said. was that ne
had bought a Job LOT Of labels so
marked and thought there was no harm
I'm using them. Tie also declared ms
intention of retiring from business al
she end n the month. Dr. Watson
stated that ne had obtained samples OF
milk from This dairy containing o'2D'-
600 bacteria. ~
samuel Katz. another dealer. testified
cat he had been sick and much or the
work Of his milk business had been
done bv hired help. Or. Watsons test
showed GO0OO0 bacteria in milk taken
from this place.
Jacob Nllman. who stated that he
operated a dairy at No. i06 West sixth
street. admitted in response TO a ques-
ton from Mr. Wells that he had never
examined his bottles before fllling 10
see whether there was any dirt or sedi-
ment i'm the bottom. The sample Of
dried milk taken from the place was
one OF the worst exhibited
You are losing lots OF fertilizer that
ought 10 he on the farm" said Mr..
Wells. holding up the sample for the
inspection OF those present.
Millman stated that he secured his
supplies OF milk from three dealers in
Middletown, whose FIRST names he did
not know. The milk which came 10
him By truck was rot iced, he said.
and was bottled in the store. He had
no apparatus for washing or sierilizing
bottles He could not explain the con-
ditiOn OF the samples Of milk taken at
his store but expressed himself as
willing TO cooperate with the state
authorities in bettering the milk supply
Of Wilmington. Dr. Watson stated that
The sample Of milk secured at this store
contained 100000 bacteria.
A. r. pike, OF the Sedgely Farms, was
called. but was not present.
]. T. Coffin, whose milk was stated
by Dr. Watson, 10 contain 100000
bacteria. said he had no machinery for
the pasteurization OF milk. and could
not account for the conditions. found
by the state chemist He promised to
cooperate with Or. Watson in the fu-
ture.
"We will hold you responsible for
the condition OF the milk supplied by
you 10 the public said Mr. Wells,
and il any action Is taken IL viii be
against you. II Is for you TO see that
your milk supply conforms 10 the
state standards Bad milk makes trou-
bic for all the citizens. We don't want
TO make trouble for any one but we
are going after the dealers who serve
impure and unclean milk in Whining
ton"
J. p. Zebley, whose milk was said to
have contained 100000 bacteria, prom
ised TO get permission for operating a
pasteurizlng plant and is al this time
making improvements 10 his plant Mr.
Wells called his attention TO the many
eases i'm which the authorities had
found that the system Of pasteuriza-
, ton in operation was not correct one
and urged him 10 get his plant in
shape and cooperate with the stale
G. II. Griffith. who stated that he OBJ
laned his supply from two dealers,
, named Stall and Samworth, thought
that upon several occasions his milk
had been watered and was dirty His
milk was pronounced low in butter
fats. below the standard required by
, the State and a very low grade OF