The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-05
MILK CODE
UNDER FIRE

tlOnGiHuo0 lTOH age octcHt
details of their enforcement. Such
amendments as are proposed would
mean that Birmingham had milk ordi-
nance only on paper and that him
ORANGES placed in the way of quick and
adequate enforcement would constitute
an obstacle impracticable if not impos-
sible to overcome. 1t is the feeling of
the board of health that quick and
rigid enforcement of any health meas
ure should be facilitated to the fullest
extent within the bounds of reason and
common decency.
Violators Howl 80.
During the past three years so per
cent of the dairymen of Jefferson coun-
ty have adjusted themselves to suit
the law. At the present moment the
remaining 20 per cent of the dairy
men are endeavoring to adjust the law
to suit themselves. The howl of law
violatOrs against the severity of enforce
ment of milk regulations illustrates con-
clusively that the code as it stands
has sufficient teeth to protect both
the legitimate raw milk industry and
the public health when adequately en-
forced.
1.-The interest and efforts of the
board of health in connection with the
local milk situation are based solely on
the consideration of the tremendous
Importance of an abundant, safe and
wholesome milk supply in it's relation to
the public health. The pitifully small
per capita consumption of milk in the
past, due to a lack of confidence because
of filthiness and lack of regulation, was
recognized as one Of the major problems
confronting the board at the time of the
reorganization of the local health de-
partment seven years ago. In approach
ing its task Of dealing with the problem,
the board of health sought the consulta-
ton and advice of every available au-
thority representing federal. state and
local agencies concerned with develop
ment of the dairy industry, after the
most careful study on the ground, and
every step has been taken after such
consultation and in entire accord with
advices thus obtained. it was recognize
ed Mt the outset that no plan would sue
ton the best interests of the industry
Fortunately the interests of the dairy
industry have invariably been found to
harmonic readily with good health prac-
tice, n point which is conceded by all
students0of the subject, both from the
standpoint of agriculture and dairying
and the public health aspect as well;
Certainly no greater testimony may be
rendered in support of this claim than
can be derived from review of the
local situation.
up to 1921 tile consumption of milk
was at a dangerous minimum, and with
very few exceptions no person engaged
in the industry could lay claim to pros
perity. A shameful high mortality rate
from typhoid and other intestinal dis
eases had prevailed for years and which
was definitely associated with milk as
one of the principal sources of spread
Since that time, over the period of de-
velOpment and greater effectiveness of
milk control and the operation of the
regulations contained in the milk code,
the consumption of milk has more than
doubled and is still increasing The
production of milk in Jefferson county
has been expanded sufficiently to meet
the growing demand and the introduce
ton of additional cows into the herds
of authorized distributors is almost a
daily occurrence. Under nutrition is
now definitely established in the minds
of medical authorities as one of the
prime underlying causes of sickness and
impaired vitality, and the solution of
the nutrition problem is regarded as al
most the sole point of attack in the re-
duction of many diseases, notably, tuber-
culosis. Improvement in the sanitary
quality of the local milk supply has
been accompanied by IS per cent re-
duction in sickness and mortality from
typhoid fever and colitis as well as a
marked lowering of infant mortality
from causes closely associated with
feeding. which, as public health
achievement, is little short of. sepctacu-
lar.
Hopeless Task
Regulations designed for the pur-
pose of producing the results men
toned above must obviously be directed
toward the various points and factors
affecting such results, in their relation
to the industry as such. To undertake