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72
quality than the ordinary roundsman's supply from the churn. I do
not speak merely in respect of the fat percentage, which is of less
immediate importance, than of the freshness of the milk. Stale
pasteurised milk is very poisonous to young infants. From observations
in the Infant Welfare centres, I believe that gastro-intestinal
symptoms are more often caused by the toxins in stale milk than by
actual bacterial infections. The glass bottle is, of course, no protection
against this, but if all milk for inlants were supplied in glass bottles
with sealed caps, and the date of milking on the cap, a great improvement
would be effected.
Several firms in Deptford are now undertaking to supply all
customers with milk in glass bottles, but the bottles are not sealed or
dated, and the milk varies in quality. At present the standard can only
be kept up by constant watchfulness on the part of the customer-and
constant grumbling. But I am asking all mothers to grumble until
they get pure milk.
Grade "A," Certified Milk. I have now a fair number of mothers
who are willing to pay extra and buy Grade "A," Certified Milk for
their babies. Those who do so are delighted with it, and some tell me
that they and their husbands drink it as well, and that they had not
before realized what real milk should taste like. If the price of
certified milk could be even slightly reduced it would be brought within
the means of many more families.
Contra indications for fresh milk. Dried milk is used in the
following circumstances: —
(a) Where there is tuberculosis in the household.
(b) In one-room homes, where milk cannot be kept.
(c) If the clothing and person of the mother or baby are dirty.
(d) If the mother is of poor intelligence, e.g., if the mother tells
me the milk disagrees with the baby and I find she is
keeping it warm from one feed to the next in a thermos
flask.
(e) In hot weather, if the mother tells me she cannot keep fresh
milk.
(/) If the Health Visitor reports that the home conditions are
unsuitable.
I always insist on the babies' milk being boiled, then rapidly
cooled.