The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-10-07
DANGEROUS To PUBLIC HEALTH.

It seems that most of the disquiet among disinterested persons as regards the milk controversy has been caused by the protesting dairymen's charge that the health departments policy would ulti- nqately destroy the raw-milk business in this city. Although such an outcome is secuted by those informed as to the sit- uation, yet there are many people appar- ently who have been honestly apprehen- s1ve. Raw milk properly produced is an invaluable food for babies, and it would Be regrettable if it should be banned from easy purchase. But. the health pro- gfam only contemplates making raw rpilk safe. It will always be avt Table &C., cprding to the demand. @ :.
 Those who have felt uneasiness on this skore should remember first that the charge has been brought by persons seek ing to throw discredit upon the health department; by persons who find them selves in difficulty because they have not at all times, obeyed the very sensible pro- visions for the protection of milk from contamination. Nobody wants raw milk that is not safe to use. Yet the amend ments proposed by certain dairymen would make it easier to produce milk that is not safe, simply because the effect of the amendments would be to impede the ability of the health department to take prompt measures to halt the sale of milk found to be impure. It would also tend to obstruct the facility of dairy inspections. The very thing that some dairymen object to about inspections is in reality their most valuable feature Some dairymen object to irregular and unheralded inspections. Why? Simply because they do not want to be caught unawares. If it were not for that there could be no reason for their objections, for inspections do not interfere with the routine of the dairies.
 If the people await an authoritative word as to the assurance of the raw milk supply, let them read the statement of the Jefferson County Medical Milk Commission in this regard, published in Sundays Age-Herald. The commission says: "This commission deals solely with raw milk, and can assure the general pub lice that safe raw milk will always be available" The commission might have added, however, that all raw milk off, fered for sale here will not be safe, if the proposed amendments are adopted. The commission further declares: "This commission regards the whole movement as an unwarrantable and disgraceful at tempt to break down system of official control which has demonstrated its enor- nous value during the past four years in safeguarding the public health in ad- dition to fostering the welfare of the dairy industry in Jefferson county to its present stage"
 The baby specialists, who employ raw milk in their care and treatment of babies, say to the people of Birmingham: {: "We feel obligated solemnly to warn the public and the city commission than any changes made to the Birmingham milk code without the competent guidance and recommendation of the board of health would in our opinion be liable to con- stitute a grave public health menace" The Board of Health takes strongest possible exception to the proposed amendments, declaring that enforcement of the present laws has reduced by T5 per cent. the sickness and mortality from diseases spread by impure milk. The Doctors Civic League of Jefferson County emphatically informs the people that passage of the amendments would ''render unsafe the raw milk supply of this community and make possible the return of typhoid and colitis epidemics '' Do the people of this community want that? Would the city commission dare to take the responsibility of that form ,N6 wholesale deaths?
 The whole thing resolves itself to this proposition: Certain dairymen who have refused to obey the milk regulations de signed to give the people pure milk, sub stitute regulations designed, not to for ward the health program, but to impede it. No city official with the least re- gard for the public welfare would spon- sor for a moment a movement of that sort