The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-03-01
State Dairy Inspector New Makes
Comments

Dear Edltor:-
In your recent publication of n
letter dated February 2, 1923. from
DR.. /. l.. Salley. find the writer ~
ignorant of the facts or has wilfully
made misstatements.
DR.. Salley writes "The men selling
whole milk In town are obliged 10
have their herds tested" Allow me
to state for the information OF the
citizens of Skowhegan that milk
dealers In that town are not obliged
TO have their herds tested. Every
milk dealer up to January l. selling
milk In Skowhegan, has voluntarily
had his herd tested by State Veterin-
nrians without charge in accordance
with State and Federal provisions.
The public Is indebted for this work
to Milk Inspector Eldop "A. BOYD,
County agent G. A. Storer and to the
local milk dealers whose spirit OF
cooperation made. this work easier.
The writer further states but our
milk factory IN town Ia allowed TO sell
milk, SKINNED milk, ice cream, butter
etc. and nothing IL said about their
products coming from tubercul
tested cows The doctor must real
lee that is is big undertaking for
creamery to require all milk and
cream accepted be from tuberculin
tested herds without a demand from
the consumer or without town ordi-
nance or q board OF hea tn bylaw, re-
curing the same. 1t would be
equally di1'crl to obtain the consent
Of each OF these several hundred pat
rons Of the local creamery to have
their herds tested. pr. Salley, / do
not believe. would advocate that each
herd supply 'ng the creamery be tu-
berculin tested without some demand
from the consumers, since he must
know that pastenrization is fully as
sale as tubercnlin testing with re-
gard to disease germs. MIX and
cream sold by the local creamery is
pasteurized.
lam SURPRISED that man who
holds o position as veterinarian and
Who has had the exper' In dair-
ing that / presume DIR. Sallev has
had, is not aware that clean milk is
often produced on apparently nnsani-
tAry forms and that dirty milk may
come from barns with an expensive.
and neat enuipment. DR.. Salley feels
that an injustice has been done some
of,the dairvmen whose milk, upon
analysis, showed sediment in that
some of It comes from what he con-
siders we'I-kept barns. He refers
specifically to q recent report Of an
alyees of milk and inspection OF
dariee. I beg to advise. that
this report included the &C.
lirpert fonnd IN the bottle, Of milk ns
Obtained from tho local milk dealers
ana determined by Dr. A. q. Gross OF
B0wdOin College. A report OF the
sanitary condition of the daries sup
plying Skowhegan stated that they
were found to be in.a fa'rly satfs-
factory condition at that time The
United States Department Of Agri-
culture places greater stress on
methods of producing and handling
milk than upon equipment. !; There
are often very important steps In the
handling Of milk which are overlook
cd In come very we'll equipped dayies.
Imperfect straipers are very softan
responsible for dirty milk in such
cases. III II; 4
Should the citizens OF Skowhegsn
see III to require mix ana cream sofa
IN that town come either from tuber-
cit'in testad herds or that they be pas
telwized. feel there wonld be very
little opposition on the part OF milk
dep'er or the creamery. Ahont
thirty cites and town in the State
have such ordinances which have
worked out very satisfactorily.
feel that great deal OF good work
has been done the past year toward
improving the milk supply Of Show
hegsn. and trust that the good work
viii be continued.
Very truly yours,
II ,t-33 FORREST A. BARBOUR