Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-14
G'tsHint:'S ESeoina Yestsfday ssSiz 142O8
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1920
Now Will the Council Act?


Milk Inspector Hollett, who seems .,
have a high appreciation OF the duties
II bis position, and An earnest desire ts
do all that may be in the power of hit
Office to insure supply of good and pure
milk for the people at all times. continues
his urgent appeals to City Council for
measures TO remedy evil conditions he has
discovered in the milk situation. His
monthly reports, for several months IN
succession, have proved most interesting
information, as they have pointed out q
surprising amount of evil; but lacking
official power TO remedy every discordant
element, he has to content himself with
putting the matter up TO City Council
IN the most urgent manner.
Milk Inspector Hollett has accomplish
ed one good reform, however, by his Of
6cisl activity. His early reports to City
Council showed an alarming condition
of evil and Indifference in respect Of the
milk that WAS being served in this city.
There was q general failure of the milk
SAMPLES tested by him TO comply with
the legal requirement in respect of butter
fat. bacteria and cleanliness. The num-
her of instances cited of milk that was
actually dirty when served was amazing
The publication Of these details, however,
produced good results, and succeeding
reports showed decreasing extent, right
along. of butter fat deficiency, bacteria
prcvelance and dirtiness But all this
time City Council has done nothing,
although in each monthly report Inspector
Hollett recommended important changes
IN the existing ordinance, in the direction
II bringing about radical reforms.
In his report 10 City Council last /
Thursday night, Inspector HolIett made I
reference to very serious danger in the /
milk situation-infsnt mortality He 1
nointed out that the death rate in vii
mington az children less than one year of
age is excessive. comprising L. 8 per cent
of all the deaths. and 80 per cent higher
than the infant death rate in New York
City. with pure milk supply, the
Inspector suggests, "this condition might
not prevail" He also called attention 20
an alarming mortality from tuberculosis
among children. twenty deaths having
occurred in the past two years. How
MANY Of these were caused bv infected
csy-s mill" he said. we do not know.
hut We do know the State veterinarian
% fndrng tubercular COWS every week IN
herdr that we have allowed "a produce
milk for sale IN the CITY Of Wilmington
He also referred 90 the fact that the
average dcsth rate from typhoid fever in
Wilmington for the past two wears has
been almost twice that for the entire
country and several times greater than
the rate IN Chicago. New York and other
large cities that require pasteurRation for
all but the very highest grades of milk
A large amount of typhoid fever IS spread
bv infected COWS, the inspector adds
'hut the present milk ordinance docs not
guard against II. And he advocated an
ordinance regulating the distribution of !
milk in Wilmington that would meet the
situation. {
These reforms have been urged upon I
the CITY Council for several months bv {
the milk inspector but his admonitions /
have fallen on deaf ears. The CITY COun- I
al has paid no more attention TO hun than n
4 the subject possessed no importance
whatever What more do the members OF
& Council need TO stir them to sction? Can I
they not see the danger that already has >
bro1toht about sprtous gopsaot,arc.. ..,,,l I ID
the necessity Of applying all the reform 9
u may be within the power Of City Coun- u
al 90 bring 10 bear? What il the use of
having q faithful and competent milk
Inspector, interested in his work and ~
alive 20 the necessity Of protecting the
'ity's milk supply, if an Indifferent City a.
1Ouncs IS 20 continually ignore ms ur- i'
GENT and practical recommendations
lrc the lives Of our children Of no ac-
cunt? ,
From whatInspcctor Hollett says about ;,
'erds Of cattle infected by tuberculosis.
I is apparent that either additional
tate legislation is needed or a more rigid
Increment Of existing regulations. The IA
eneral Indifference IN respect Of this very A.
erious matter is somewhat appalling
nd it has been shown that those e.,eem-'
az themselves good citizens will encourage 80
be danger, instead Of Joining in the work NJ
suppression. II is not yet forgotten
ow some COWS at the workhouse that
ere discovered TO be affected by tu-
erculoels, several years ago, were sold
lstead Of being slaughtered and the
,rcasses incinerated, and that one Of the
fected cows was bought for resale to a
itcher, To be disposed Of as meat food
he very suggestion Of seeking profit
rough such channels is repulsivc
IL is Of the greatest importance that