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44
with the inferior article, Grade A. Perhaps it would not be fair
to rename these designated milks "A", "B" and "C," for then
"B" and "C" might be deemed by the public to be inferior to
ordinary milk, but it might be desirable to call "Grade A (Tuberculin
Tested)" simply "Grade Al," an appellation which we have
recently been taught to consider of special significance in relation
to other matters. The Grades would then be "Certified," "Grade
A1" and "Grade A." The last grade is really the first step to the
higher grade to which all producers should aspire.
"Pasteurised" milk is milk which has been heated to from
145 deg. to 150 deg. F. and kept at that temperature for half an
hour. This milk must be cooled and must not contain more than
100,000 bacteria per cubic centimetre. It has been conclusively
shown that pasteurisation in this way (the "positive holder"
method) destroys tubercle bacilli and other disease-producing
organisms which may gain access to milk. As such it may be
considered a safe milk and is to be recommended in preference to
the ordinary milk or milk pasteurised by heating for only a few
seconds ("flash-process") which may reduce the number of bacteria
present and lessen the liability to souring, but which cannot be
depended upon to kill the bacillus of tuberculosis. Pasteurised
milk, when carried out by the first and legally approved method,
has the small disadvantage that the Vitamin C (anti-scurvy) is
almost entirely destroyed, but this can readily be supplied, particularly
in infant feeding, by giving a little fruit juice.
One note of warning, however, must be uttered. It must not
be thought that pasteurisation is the remedy for the milk question.
It is really a confession of failure to produce at the present moment
a uniformly safe milk supply. Our object should be to produce
a tubercle-free milk with such care and attention to cleanliness
that no treatment by heat is required. In other words our aim
should be Grade A (Tuberculin Tested) or, if it ought to be called a
better name, "Grade Al," milk for the whole country.
There was no refusal or revocation of registration of
retailers or of licenses for graded milk.