Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-07
Straus on Use Of
Pasteurized Milk
as Infant Diet

London,> July "a paper by
Nathan Straus of New York. dealing
with the improvement of infant
health conditions through the use of
pasteurized milk, was read by DIT. s.
G. RI. Moore, health officer of Hud
dersfield at the conference on In
FAINT Welfare. held here today under
the patronage of the King and
Queen.
Mr.. .Straus' paper stated that It
was his original purpose. when the
milk campaign was inauguratcd in
1892 to check the rGVageS from
summer complaint which attacked
infants i'll their second summer. At
that time, Mr. Straus asserted.
large percentage of children sue
cumbed from intestinal trouble in
their second summer when the
change was made from mothers
milk TO the infected milk of the
cow"
"Of /. 81, OS9 deaths in the United
States in 1914, 2TS,52O We're of ha-
bies under two years and 6J.29S OF
these deaths were from intestinal
disorders mainly infectious diseases
due to germs conveyed i'll milk" Mr..
StrauS' paper stated.
LAS the germ theory became the
subject of extensive scientific re-
search it became evident that germs
caused other diseases. in addition to
tuberculosis and intestinal poison.
Typhoid, scarlet. diphthcria. septic
sore throat and measles, all these
diseases were found to he caused by
germs in milk.
TT ere are records of numerous
epidemics where il was officially eS-
tabiished that the milk supply had
been the carrier of the germs. The
most striking of all WAS my cNper-
fence during the infantile paralNsls
epidemic which scourged New YORK
during the summer of 1916, or the
200 children who were entirely icd
on the pasteurized milk prepared at
my laboratory, not single case or
the disease developed. When TINS
fact became known, | was beseig"d
by frantic mothers for information.
Mr.. Straus advised these inqulrers
to use pasteurizcd milk or to boil 1t
if they were unable 70 obtain mix
so treated. He told of the establish
ment of his milk depots in various
parts of New York City where train
ed attendants advised the mothers III
the care Of infants. The extent TO
which his pioneer work had been
followed was shown in the paper
by the fact that 100 milk depots had
been established in New York, - IN
Philadelphia, 20 in Chicago and l.
in st. Louis Altogether in the | n
tied States. Mr.. Straus said 29i such
stations are distributed in .H cities.
Nv this means milk at one cent a
large glass free from any possible
infection" was brought WITHIN the
reach of children. In some sum
mers ! 800 900 glasses were dispens-
ed through these stations.
To enable people who desired 10
pasteurize milk for their own use he
devised a pasteurizer that could be
used in the homes and sold them at
cost or gave them TO those who
could not afford to pay. He present
ed complete pasteurizing plant t"
the city of Philadelphia and quoted
figures showing the reduction OF IN
FAINT mortality which ensued.
Mr. Straus told Of the opposition
which. he asserted. arose from the
selfishness and ignorance of dairy
men and milk dealers and said IT
was an inCessant fight to compel
them to pasteuriZe their milk.
All his social work whethet III
propaganda for pasteurization or in
his Health Department in Jerusalem
WAS open to all The milk was pro-
vided without distinction Of race, re-
lgion or color.
Concluding. he stated: Il have the
satisfaction of world wide recogni-
ton of the Importance Of putting an
end to the criminal and Unnecessary
waste of child life through milk
poisoning;
Transformation must become "A
world movements movement that