Evening star., 1922-07-22
HUBLIC opinion sometimes has
- far more force than numerous
rules and regulations. Com

1 II
- far more force. than numerous
rules and regulations. Com
petition sometimes results in a
far better product than list of speci-
fications. These two forces. combined,
make a powerful weapon. and 1t Is
with this weapon that the District
board Of health has built up one OF
| the best milk supplies in the country.
With practically only two rules. that
| requiring the tuberculin test and the
one. requiring a butter fat test Of 3.5
per cent to work with. the local sup
ply has been made almost as near
perfect as present-day methods Will
| allow, with the cost at the same time
kept within reasonable limits.
Where certain cut and dried regula-
| tions are laid down for the production
| of milk. the aim Of many immediate
| ly becomes to do just what is required
example, the rules governing the pro-
duction and sale of milk fill quite
| siZeable pamphlet The milk is dtvfd-
ed into four grades, certified and
grades A. b and c. AS one might as
| sumo, the regulations are less strin-
The price, too. differs. The outcome OF
| 1t is that a person better able to pay
| can get better milk. though 1t often
happens that they are not the ones
most vitality affected.
In Washington, there Is but one
grade, excellent milk. and the price is
uniform. OF course. there are special
milks practically free from any bac-
terial contamination or especially
high in butter fat. but the general
grade is far above the average OBJ
tanning in New York despite the
pages and pages of rules.
The reports indicate that the bac-
| terial count is averaging about 10000
per cubic centimeter, which is re-
markably low average. Some of the
dealers have even been able to get
! their count as low as 5000, which is
as near pure as any one could ask.
The butter fat content at 3.5 per cent
runs well above the minimum of most
cities. per cent being the usual fig
ure. The results are obtained through
publicity and competition.
Briefly, the system runs along the
lines OF inspections and reports made
available to the public.
The entire field supplying the Dis
1 >.
! inspectors so armed with a score card
| on which are listed the methods and
| practices found vital to the produc-
ton of good milk, with a score award
ed to each denoting perfection. The
total Of the scores is 100. The inspec-
tor looks over the farmers stable. If
| it is OF sanitary construction. thor
| oughly clean and whitewashed, II
| there IS sufficient light and ventila-
ton. and so on. he may score the
! maximum. If anything is found not
up to standard he scores the barn
down accordingly.
He examines the facilities for cool
I ing the milk. for cleaning and steril-
/ izing the utensils. the condition of the
| barnyard and the water supply. He
examines any possible sources of con-
whether or not those employed about
the dairy have been subjected to medi-
cal examinations. He looks over the
herd itself. to see whether or not the
cows are kept clean, and he watches
the methods at the actual time of
milking.
All these matters bear directly
upon the quality of the milk. and each
has its rating. He scores according
ly. And then. last. as the milk is de-
livered to the dealer. samples are
taken, to determine the bacterial
count and the food content Of the
milk.
The total score is then added up
and the dairyman has his rating,
which is furnished to all dealers in
the city.
This rating furnishes more than
half of the total score that is later
given the dealer. In other words, the
greater part of the dealers score is
settled before he buys the milk. Nat
urally. he will demand the very best
possible and will buy from those hav-
ing the highest rating. Those with