South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-19
BY STUART T. TODD.


require by ordinance compulsory
pasteuriZation Of its milk supply, go
percent Of the fluid milk sold in the
city is pasteurized at the present
time. Approximately Is percent OF
it comes from plants in which little
fault can be found either with the
sanitary conditions or methods en-
ployed in fits handling. The other
25 percent either is sold IN its raw
state or is the output OF pasteurizing
plants possessing undesirable san
itary features or whose methods lack
essential elements of efficiency.
In Mishawaka, conditions are close
ly allied TO those In South Bend,
although proportionately there Is a
slightly larger percentage OF raw
milk sold there. For pasteurizing
plants turn out two-thirds of NIish-
awaka's milk supply. One OK these,
new plant, strictly moder1 and
equipped with late type sanitary
machinery and in which the methods
are highly efficient, handles practic-
ally so percent Of the city's entire
supply, with a proportion of It COM
ing to certain outlying districts in
South Bend.
Child Mortality Reduced.
Both cities are to be congratulated
upon the success which has attended
the efforts OF the health depart
ments in each TO safeguard their
milk supplies. But for the efforts put
forth by these bodies. based upon
scientific statistical facts which have
/ proved that efficient pasteurization
/ does render milk safe for human
/ consumption by destroying the pos
slble content Of raw milk OF disease
/ breeding bacteria, South Bend and
| Mishawaka could not today be IN
\ their enviable position. Vital statis-
\ lies in both cities show the results
/ of these efforts especially in the re-
/ duction OF mortality rate among
| children. If no other result had
/ been accomplished this in Itself
\ should be ample argument in favor
\ OF whatever future steps may be
/ taken to secure even greater pro-
/ tective benefits by universal pasteur-
\ ization OF all milk sold in either
city.
I There may be objections advanced
/ by those adherents OF the thread.
/ bare idea that raw milk Is better
| FOR children. II Is a fact that the
\ heating process In pasteurlzation
/ does destroy certain vitamines which
are desirable in the baby's diet. But
/ this element can be very easily sup
piled with a spoonful OF orange Juice
/ or other citrus acid The factor OF
safety in the pasteurized product so
| greatly Overshadows the insignifl-
/ cant loss of one small element in the
raw product that even for infants
/ feeding Il Is nOnessential.
South Bend has 50 dairies, all but
| six or seven of which are pasteuriz-
| ing their product Some OF the pas
teurizing plants are so small as 20
make It economically impossible for
them to properly equip their places
I with efficient machines. In them,
as IN the raw milk dairies. hand cap
ping OF bottles is almost universal,
"a Is also a lack OF steriliz!ng facil
/ cilIties. What small amount OF
equipment they possess in some In
/ stances IS inadequately cleaned and
often is insanitary. Ignorance on
the part OF the dairyman most often
r. the cause Of this cond!tion-some-
times felgned ignorance. sometimes
real lack Of understanding Of the
| methods required
Improper Machinery.
Ignorance can be and Is being
] =.
I efficient work among the dairymen
and plants OF Dr. J. F. Olney. food
/ and dairy Inspector. However, ig-
norance Is often prone 10 accept the
/ advice or suggestion OF equipment
| statesmen. whose sole interest Is
/ centered in the deposition OF ma
/ chinery. sometimes 10 their know
\ ledge OF a character barred in most
cities. The equipment IS purchased
uDon their recommendation without
/ consultation with the dairy inspec-
tor or hearth department. The re-
I suit ~ that In many instances I'M
proper machinery often at wholly
1 unnecessary expense IS installed
without the knowledge OF the off,
Gals whose duty Il = TO enforce
proper sanitary regulation IN the
/ plants and dairies.
/ Safeguarding a city's milk supply
\ Is a task requiring unceasing vigil
/ lance on the part OF those Official
/ ~ delegated 20 the JOB as well as
/ intelligent and painsaking effort
along educational lines with the
l dairy1nen and milk plant owners
/ Frequent intelligent inspection IS
/ necessary but not in all cases IS Il
/ necessary or advisable 70 ''put a
man out OF business" Just because
wrongful conditions are found eX-
I sting. Advice and suggestions
often so farther than arbitrary &C
/ ton and obtain better results
Adanuafa leFislatfYe measures