The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-06
INSTRUMENTATION
 FREE ID DIARIES
 AT MILK DEPOTS.
Chief Inspector Explains Requirements of Milk Supply Stations in
 Present Situation

Inspectors from the bureau of animal industry and the dairy inspectors of the department of health stand ready Co come to the assistance of any dairyman n who wishes information as to how to equip himself to. sell raw milk, says Chief Inspector August Forrest.
 ''rhe department of health realizes, of milk throughout the nation, that raw milk is the best to use provided it is pure and clean However, if 1t is not clean milk, it is very dangerous, since it pro- vides such a wonderful medium for the growth of disease producing bacteria.
 Under these conditions milk to be pure must be pasteurized. For these reasons the department of health has requested such safeguards to be established around Birmingham's milk supply, as to protect both the public and the dairymen.
 When the facts point to the necessity of pasteurization to protect the public health the department or it's inspectors find it impossible to suggest otherwise. However it is not the wish of the de- partment of health to compel pasteuriza- tion except where conditions point to it's being absolutely necessary.
 IS OPTIONAL
 The ordinance recently passed places an option with the dairyman. He does not have to pasteurize his milk provided he wishes to and does equip himself iu such manner as to allow the department of health or it's inspectors to permit the dairyman to sell milk raw.
 This equipment fundamentally speak ing. consists of a herd absolutely free from tuberculosis as determined by the tuberculin test administered by a com petent veterinarian; the installation of a vat for sterilization of vessels and bot ties at PIP degrees for thirty minutes, and absolute cleanliness in the process ot milking, such as brushed cows washed and milk strained in the milk house and not in the barn.
 The installation of this equipment and the inauguration of these methods will protect the public Lealth
 If this equipment is not installed by the time the ordinance goes into effect the department has only the option of re- quiring milk to be pasteurized before be- ing sold to the public. This is only pro- tection of the public health that as an orga nization for the public good the de- partment of health .eels absolutely com pelled to make. At any time thereafter that dairyman qualities he may sell his milk raw.
 However as this requirement. pro vides very atable and sound protection against dissemination of diseased milk it works no hardship upon the dariyman. FREE PASTEURIZATION "The pasteurization plants will buy milk from the dairymen, pasteurize, bot tie and resell it to them at the same price. These companies extract from the iy,ail ,a in 10 fa of the milk when it is received and the legal standard of 3.5 per cent provided for in the ordinance. This is their com pensation.
 'The dairyman can then continue sup plying his same route. and both he and the consumer can feel that they are work ing in compliance with the ordinance.
 Thirty and, one-third per cent of all the milk collected in the past year by the inspectors. has been shown to be be- low tLe standard.
 Again the feature of bottling has seemed to cause some confusion The ordinance does not stare specifically that all milk must be bottled. It must be sold in original packages.
 DAIRY SEALED g
 "One can sell milk m ten-gallon cans provided the cans arc sealed at the time of milking and remain so until time CT delivery.
 ''This feature is in the ordinance to prevent the pernicious habit of dipping milk at no matter what place of sale.
 "The department of health wishes to impress upon all dairymen contemplating selling milk under she new ordinance to make application at once at the office or the bureau of food and dairy inspection, Room 26, City Hall.
 ''The pubic, as represented through it's constituted authority. make this request for it's own protection only.
 "The department of health, through it's inspectors, can assist any dairyman to qualify under this ordinance and stands ready to do so at any time it is given the chance.
 AUGUSTUS FORREST, .Chief of Bureau Food and Dairy h. spection, Department of Health