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274
1912]
supply. Their recommendations are laughed to scorn, and they are told that
they are interfering busy-bodies who know nothing whatsoever about the
subject. The very coarseness and intensity of some of these attacks defeat
their own purpose, for while they leave Medical Officers of Health unmoved,
they show that they are made for purely trade purposes. There are,
however, other papers devoted entirely to the best interests of the farmers,
which never tire in pointing out how necessary it is that every precaution
should be taken to secure the purity of the milk at its source of origin, and one
can see, as a result, that there is undoubtedly an improvement in the state or
cleanliness of milk as it arrives in the large towns from the farms. Still, much
remains to be done, and an ideal pure milk supply is yet to be attained.
A little time since the Medical Officer of Health jotted down in his
notebook suggestions for the protection of milk supplies which were made in
1902, by the Health or Milk Inspectors of the United States Government, who
at the time were making inquiry into the milk supply of a hundred cities, and
while all the suggestions may not be suitable for England, yet so many of them
are equally applicable to this country that he now gives them:—
a. The registration of all dairies.
b. The official endorsement of properly conducted dairies.
c. The inspection of all herds, barns, dairy buildings, etc., once a month.
, d. The better lighting, ventilation, drainage, and cleanliness of cows'
stables.
e. Whitewashing the interior of stables (cowshed).
f. The eradication of tuberculosis from dairy herds.
g. Branding of condemned cows.
h. Cows not to be given swill feeds, etc.
i. Cows to be regularly cleansed.
j. Pasturage for city cows.
k. Aeration of milk in pure air.
l. Prompt cooling of milk and holding it at a low temperature until
final delivery.
m. Shipment of milk promptly from farms after milking.
n. Delivery of milk and cream in sealed packages (glass bottles or
small cans) so as to avoid unnecessary contamination by city
dust. etc.
o. Delivery of milk in cities at any hour of the day when it can be
supplied in the best condition.
p. Restriction upon the sale of milk in markets, candy stores, etc.