Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-30

out a product which. while it may not
in most cases be dangerous to health
yet has very great possibilities Of
contamination.
Il have recently been in commune
cation with DR.. r. F. Dyer, in charge
of the Dairy Inspection Division.
Health Department. Boston. Mass,
regarding patrons of creameries in
this State whose product is being
shipped to Boston and who have been
excluded, because of unsanitary con-
ditions, from continuing this prac-
tice. If the milk sold by these dairy
men is not satisfactory to the citi-
zens of Boston it should not be sat-
isfactory to the citizens of Maine.
Il have received a report on about
200 diaries excluded during the past
year by the Massachusetts Depart
ment of Health, and il the unsanitary
! conditions described are not greatly
improved by the time it becomes
possible for this Buerau to investi-
gate them. the owners should not be
permitted to dispose of their product
in this State.
These investigations will be made
at the earliest possible moment, but
since believe the greater part Of my
time would be devoted to Investigate
ing retail dealers and diaries supply
ing retail dealers who ara disposing
Of their milk and cream in our own
cities and towns, this work may
necessarily be prolonged.
Creamery Inspection.
Eight creameries were inspected
during the past year and the sani-
tary conditions Of each have been
found to be very satisfactory. There
are. however, some criticisms to be
made as to the methods employed In
using the Babcock Test.
Most of the creameries inspected
did not place the test bottles in a
bath after taking them from the
; centrifuge. OF those that did use the
bath only one used a container of
! sufficient depth to bring the water
| line above the fat column. In a few
! instances the samples were kept at a
high temperature by forcing steam
into the centrifuge and permitting
| the bottles to remain there until re-
moved for the purpose Of measuring
the fat column. None Of the cream
| cries visited employed any means for
testing the strength of the acid they
| were using.
! "The chief criticism which I have
to make is in regard to the length Of
time elapsing between tests. With
one exception, all Of the creameries in
| the State. in so far as am aware,
test their patrons milk only once
each month. The one shining ex-
ception tests every two weeks Dur
ing the war weather and under ordi-
nary creamery conditions, composite
samples will not keep in q satisfac-
tory condition for testing much lon
ger than IS days.
| During the past summer have
seen many samples from which, be-
cause Of that decomposed condition,
it would be absolutely impossible to
make an accurate test.
1T does not necessarily follow that
the test would be unfair to the
patron. in fact, it might favor him:
nevertheless only by chance, would
it be accurate and fair to both
creamery and patron. This is a con-
dition which should be remedied az
soon as possible.
/ Local Milk Inspections.
Tn 1916 there were about half a
dozen local milk inspectors in the
State. A few OF these men were do
. ing all they could toward improving
their local sanitary conditions. Az
the present time there are 80 men en-
gagged in this work IN the larger
towns and cities Of the State. The
majority are taking an interest in
their duties and much good is being
accomplished. This Bureau is CO.
operating with them in every posi-
BILE way"