Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-12-19
New Health Code.

A sanitary code for Montgomery County
to supplement the State regulations. the
features of which are to be milk and herd
inspection and regulation Of nuisances not
actually detrimental to health, is being
prepared by DR.. William T. Pratt. county
health officer. and Capt Joseph Cssel.
counsel to the county commissioners
The code is nearing completion and prob
ably will be submitted to the Montgomery
County Civic Federation. which instisated
the proposal, after the end of the current
year, Dr. Pratt declared today. If the fed
GRAFTON indorses it, the support of other
civic bodies will be sought and it will be
submitted to the county commissioners in
the form of proposed ordinance.
According to DR.. Pratt. it is within the
authority of the commissioners to promul-
gate such an ordinance.
The health officer pointed out that the
Maryland State regulations are not specific
enough to meet all local health needs. In
addition, he declared, various nuisances
injurious to property and enjoyment, such
as trash dumps are not controlled at present.
A milk ordinance. however. is the coun-
tvs most crying need, Dr.. Pratt thinks. The
tentative code which has been formulated
would give milk producers and vendors
inspection service without cost.
The first provision Of the ordinance would
be compulsory testing of all herds for
tuberculosis. Dr.. pratt said the Mont
eomery County Farm Bureau now Offers
his service free to all who will avail them
selves of it.
Most herds which supply milk to Wash
ineton are tested now. Dr.. Pratt asserted.
since the assurance of healthful milk is
necessary in order to sell it in the Capital.
1t is primarily against the producers of
milk consumed within the county that this
provision of the code is aimed. Ii is quite
common for the farmer with two or three
COWS which produce milk for consumption
of his own family and Of his immediate
neiehbors to dispense with the tuberculin
test.
All milk produced for use in the county
would be inspected as to the conditions
surrounding its production. its quality an
the manner of its distribution. The code
provides for inspection Of herd premises.
utensils and personnel Each person hsvins
connection with a dairy would be com
PEELED to submit TO examination to deter
mine whether he has any disease or is a
healthy carrier Of disease germs.
Not only would the producers be require
to undergo tests. but everyone through
whose hands the milk passed until il reached
the consumer would be examined.
To illustrate the importance Of such a
practice. Dr. Pratt told Of case about five
years ago when IS persons in Montgomery
County were stricken with typhoid fever
contracted from store clerk and trans
mitted through the milk he handled. The
. clerk apparently was 10 perfect health. De-.
Pratt related. but unknown to himself was
a Germ carrier. The milk was delivered to
the store in open cans and ladled out by the
J man to customers. Each Of the IS cases
the health officer declared. were traced
back 10 this source.
Transmission through milk Of tubercu
losis, undulent fever. diphtheria and othei
diseases. as well as typhoid fever. would
E be highly improbable II animIls and men
e we're examined thoroughly. Dr.. Pratt thinks
Il Among other matters to be regulated b,
q the code would be Accommodations oc de
posits Of noxious matter. ventilation anC
houses. plumbing. keeping Of aaimal. and
establishment Of cemeteries