The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-04
DISCRIMINATION OF ALL MILK, GOAL Reports to Dr. Bowling From Many Cities Say
 It's Imperative

| The pasteurization of all milk com ing into Birmingham is the goal the health department has set.
 | To this end health officers have done extensive work during the past few weeks.
 | Dr. J. D. Bowling, city health officer, in his zeal for this work. has obtained l records of the experiences of other l cities He states that Birmingham should profit by these experiences. | In reply to this letter seeking infor- nation in regard to the typhoid epi- demic of July and August, 1919. in Louisville, Ky, he received this state | ment:
 Milk from an infected source when pasteurized did not cause typhoid fever. The same milk not pastuerized started the epidemic. A certain dairy man. sixty-five miles from Louisville whose family was sick with typhoid, shipped milk to three dairies just out side the city. One of the three did not pasteurize. The epidemic was traced 10 him. The other two pasteurized their milk and il was found to be suf- ficiently pure.'
 The Louisville health officer further said, in writing to pr. Bowling: The source of infection was located very promptly. Cases vegan to increase al Aht Idlc Cl lHTtt OT iOuf d udy III one city block and then spreading both ways, radiating from this block. Upon investigation a small dairy was found on the corner of the first named block. The owner was found to be suffering from typhoid fever. The dairy was closed immediately. The dairyman claimed that he received the milk from another dairyman in Hardin county, sixty from the city Inspectors l. Asx.. .I1 t-.. f... dren of the dairyman sick with typhoid. The dairyman was immediately stopped selling any milk. Two other dairies were receiving milk from this man. but they pasteurized their milk and no eases could be traced to them"
 Instances which prove conclusively the effectiveness of pasteurization for the purifying of milk may be had from any city in the United States where this process is used, says pr. Bowling.
 MILK journals. physicians and health officers have almost succeeded in con vincing us of the desirability and the necessity of milk as a food
 States one: lover the entire universe milk is considered the greatest of all articles of food. likewise the most eco nomical Unlike other food supplies it is one of the most essential articles of food, since our very existence de-
 
 most importance that this article of food be clean and safe.
 Investigations in the past proved that the high infant mortality was largely due to impure and ad dulterated milk. It was found that in proportion to filthy mil, contaminated with mil lions of bacteria. the diarrheal diseases among infants increased"
 The Louisville annual health report states:
 Compulsory pasteurization is the greatest step for the prevention of dis eases. It will save hundreds of lives and is more important than compulsory vaccination. The latter merely con- ;rols one plague, while pasteurization ] means the stamping out of numerous plagueS.
 l"Proper pasteurization destroys all | the dangerous bacteria that may be | In the milk without impairing the taste. i digestibility or nutrttive qualities of the milk"