The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-24
MILK CONTROL CHECKS TYPHOID, CLAIMS BULMER Death Rate Shows Re- markable Decrease,
 Says Official PASTEURIZATION
 IS GIVEN BOOST Unregulated Production Is Menace To Health,
 Is Claim

Citing statistics showing a phenom- eral decrease in the death rate from typhoid fever and infant colitis since Birmingham's milk control ordinance was enacted three years ago, l.. C.. Bulmer, chief of the food and dairy division of the health department, de- clared in a statement Saturday that this record is largely attributable to the fact that 75 per cent of the city's milk supply is pasteurized.
 His statement explained why the de- pertinent will oppose the effort of q group of raw milk dairymen to have the city commission pass an ordinance modifying the restrictions now imposed on their operations.
 Bulmer revealed that attorneys rep resenting the raw milk dealers had ask ed for a conference with health au- thorities to discuss this proposed or dinance. He said this conference would be held Monday but that the de- partment would never consent to with draw any of the safeguards now thrown around the production and sale of milk.
 Definite Part Of Fight
 "It should be remembered" Bulmer said, that the efforts put forth in the past by tine department of health in connection with the milk situation have constituted a definite part of a program to stamp out typhoid and CO., litis, following the serious epidemics of 1916 and 1917. In addition to be- ing the chief source of the spread of these epidenics, it is regarded as cer- tain that the unregulated milk SUD- ply was one of the chief causes for the currently high death rate from the typhoid and cOlitis that has prevailed locally for many years.
 Since the development of milk con trol over period of three years, the typhoid death rate has dropped from 65.5 per 1000 population in 1917 to 7.7 in 1923, while ~tHe death rate from colitis among babies under two years of age dropped from 1855 per 100, ,OO0 population to 51.6. Although figures for 1924 are only available for the first seven months, indications point to a still lower rate this year."
 Were TypbsOid Carriers
 Showing the need for drastic control and inspection of milk sold in it's raw state, Bulmer said:
 "The department recently discovered that large number of persons engaged in the production of milk for consump- tiOn in Birmingham were typhoid car riers. Since an investigation began three months ago, 26 milkers or per sons employed at dairies were found to be carriers of typhoid germs and in each case the germs were recovered in pure culture. A brief study of the cases of typhoid occurring during the first seven months of this year only serves to further justify the utmost solicitude on the part of responsible authorities with reference to the milk supply. Up to August 1, 43 typhoid eases were reported to the department. Each family was fully investigated as to the probable source of infection. Of the cases using milk, 28 were users of raw milk. and 10 were users of pas teurized milk. Six cases were involved in a definite epidemic which was traced to a single raw milk dairy where, later, two persons were found to be typhoid carriers. Of IS cases in July, 13 were consumers of raw milk,
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