Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-02-18
NEED OF NEW CITY
MILK ORDINANCE
Subject Discussed by State Health
Commissions G. H
Wells.

In speaking this morning Of tho need
for now milk ordinance for tho city o
Wilmington, State Health Commissions
C.. Fl. Wells stated that during tho last
year for which figures arr available fol
the country as a whole u917) there wer,
14O deaths Of children under two year,
of age per 100000 Of population from
diarrhoca and entcritis in the city ol
Wilmington, whereas tho corresponding
figure for tho United States was IA and
for New York city, 81. During tho pre-
vious years tho rntc was 12d for Whining
ton, 66 for tho United States and 53 for
New York City
''You ask how il u possible for the
rate in Wilmington to be twice as high
IA in congcsted city like New York,
simple. These intestinal Diseases arc
caused very largely by improper food and
New York City has for years recognized
this fact and has prevented these deaths
by safe milk supply and by an ade-
Quate system of home nursing and ir,-
struction Of mothers.
another fact not generally known
ie that during the past FIVE years there
have been ,70l deaths of infants under
one year Of age in Wilmington. IL u
impossible to even estimate the money
loss, but the expense Of the sickness that
could have been prevented by a pure
milk supply would far more than cover
the cost OF an adequate milk inspection
service.
There il no question of the need for
= new milk ordinance. Practically every
one now admits it. The City Council
has been making thorough study of the
entire subject and is now ready for action
There is no doubt whatever, from the
interest already shown by the members
of Council, but what proper safeguards
will be thrown around the city milk
supply. An opportunity like the present,
TO save health and lives by the scorp,
seldom falls To Council moro than once.
The time is now opportune, the public
has been educated TO demand better
milk and the reconstruction program OF
The State and county demands protective
work of this kind
ITO those who would put the cost OF
good milk above the health and lives of
the babies it might be said that the extra
appropriation needed for milk control
would not amount to seven cents per
person per year. II the producer OBJ
jects to the production of good, pure milk,
then he is not a fiji person to be entrust-
ed with producing the food of our babies
and he should g. out of business.
"Now what will We gain by an up-to-
date milk ordinance.
al Absolute freedom from danger
of tuberculosis from diseased COWS
80 Almost absolute protection
against cpidenics Of milk-borne typhoid
fever, scarlet fever, diphthcria and septic
sore throat.
IS. A great reduction in the intestinal
diseases OF children.
-. A great reduction IN The baby
death rate.
IS. A consequent reduction in the
present high death rate in the state.
IS. A widespread recognition OF the
fact that the community Is more concerned
with the health of babies than with
collecting dollars.
"The City Council viii deserve the
commentator OF every citizen for the
adoption of new milk ordinance and
the State Board OF Health can be de-
pended upon to cooperate IN every pos
sible way, as the results viii be of such
far reaching Importance to the State as
a whole y