The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-05
DECLARES CHANGES
ARE DESTRUCTIVE
Doctor Ward Writes Conn
mission DenOuncing
Sterilization
PHYSICIANS SOUND
EPIDEMIC WARNING
Final Act On Proposed Ordi-
nance Is Expected This
Week

Opening heavy fire on the so-called
"stabilixation" ordinance sponsored Dy
aroup of raw milk dairymen, the board
of health, the jefferson county medicai
milk commission, and group OF lead
ing baby specialists Saturday issued
warning that the changes asked are
destructive rather than constructive,
and that their enactment by the city
commission would tie the hands OF
health officials and menace the health
of the Birmingham district.
The board of health, through Its
Chairman, DIR. III. s. Ward, declared IN
a letter to the commission that the pro-
posed amendments to the milk code had
obviously been drafted by one either
totally ignorant on the subject or with
utter disregard of modern public
knowledge and practice and having no
regard for moral obligations due milk
consumers" The amendments, he said,
were "skiIlfully couched in terms yelled
in innocence to the average layman,"
but that when viewed by medical auth
critics, they were found to strike at
the very fundamentals Of milk control"
DIR. Ward said the board had con-
Guided that the amendments are prompt
ed by selfish motives" and that
their adoption by the commission would
be without the sanction of the board
and over its vigorous protest.
Move Is AssaiIed
The Jefferson County Medical milk
commission. which is primarily con-
cerned with the raw milk supply, de-
clared that any changes in present regu-
latioIis that might be made without the
.-...ka.~.. - 4I,a kna1fl, hnHEd and nm
jerity of the milk dealers would be
"untimely and unwarranted." The
movement of the raw milk group was
ussailed as "a disgraceful attempt to
break down official control"
The statement of the baby specialists
of the city was also emphatic in its
denunciatiOn of the movement to go
over the head of the health department
ind try to have passed measure that
would throw milk control into maze
of uncertainty" These specialists point
ed out that neither the average layman
nor the members of the city commission
could act as competent judges of a
technical subject like Official milk con-
troll, and sounded solemn warning that
the amendments, if passed, would let
down the bars for typhoid and colitis
epidenics.
The letter sent the commission by
DIR. Ward on behalf of the board Of
health was accompanied by a lengthy
discussion of the Sterilization" ordi-
nance, giveing the boards detailed reas-
ons why each section should be defeated.
Action This Week
Final action by the commission on the
proposed ordinance is scheduled for one
day this week, or as soon as Health
Commissioner Mary Eehols RECEIVERS
from her Illness She was much inn
proved Saturday and may return to her
office the middle of the week. Police
Commissioner w b. 4Cloe is leading
the fight in behalf or the group of raw
milkmen, and has announced he will
renew his motion TO adopt their pre-
posed amendments in toto. His attempt
to pass the measure at recent hear
ing without referring it to the health
board was defeated by the other menu
bers of the commission. The belief pre-
walls at city hall that the proposed
ordinance will be rejected by the COM
mission, in view of the strong recon-
meidatioi,s submitted by the health
board, the baby specialists, the medical
milk commission and so per cent Of
the daifymen OF the city.
DIR. Wards letter follows:
City Commission,
Through Mrs Mary Echols,
Commissioner of Health and Education,
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ~
Gentlemen:
The Board of Health has given care
full consideration to proposed amend
ments to the Milk Code recently pre-
scented to the commission on behalf
of restricted group of raw milk
producers.
''Sueh comments and criticisms of the
Board of Health which appear signifi-
cant in their relation to the established
policy of the commission to uphold pub
lice health safeguards are submitted
herewith for consideration. The matter
is, considered of such Importance that
1t Is deemed essential to speak frankly
on the subject.
The proposed amendments of the So
called Sterilization milk ordinance"
when viewed authOritatively have been
obviously drafted by one either totally
ignorant on the subject or with utter
disregard for their moral obligation to
the consumers of milk. Careful securitny
OF the proposed amendments reveals the
fact that while their requirements ere
so skillfully couched in terms yelled in
Innocence to the average layman, their
Significance from the standpoint of all
thoroughly familiar with accepted pub
lie health policies, involves the total
destruction Of the effectiveness of
several of the more important pro-
visions constituting the very foundat ton
Of milk eontroi. go
Every one of the proposed amend
ments has but one motive, namely, to
impair means of enforcement. With but
one exception, the instigators of said
ordinance have cleverly 'sht to re-
frain from suggesting a s. lie amend
ment to establish standards, awins
fun well that legal standards a.. fla
lively unimportant in comparison p
the provisions influencing the practicaf
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