No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 97 



pei'sous, iiuuibei-ing lioiu fifty to sixty, that were siiUei-iiij^ with 

 tvi)lioi(l fever, bad obtained milk from tlie same milk man. An 

 examination into the source of the milk sold by this dealer showed 

 that it came from three farms in a nearby county. On one of 

 these farms there were several cases of tyi)hoid fever, and the 

 conditions were such as to render inevitable the contamination with 

 the germs of typhoid fever of both the spriu<j, house and the well 

 at the dwelling- house. A review of the history of the occurrence 

 of the disease upon this farm and among the peoi)le using the milk 

 from this farm, showed that the disease started among the con- 

 sumers about two weeks after it started on the farm, and not 

 another case developed after this milk supply was cut off. These 

 facts and the other attending circumstances Avere such as to con- 

 vince the health authorities that the disease had been carried in 

 milk from this farm to the city. This case is cited here to illus- 

 trate the necessity for care in milk production. 



By far tlie majority of milk producers wish to furnish milk tliat 

 is above reproacli. It may cost a little more to produce clean 

 milk than to produce dirty milk. If it does not cost more money 

 there is at any rate an additional expense in supervision and care. 

 It is not fair to those who take tlie care that is necessary in the pro- 

 duction of clean millv to allow careless, slovenly individuals to sell 

 their product under the same conditions in the same market. More- 

 over, it is unfair to the consumer to have delivered to him milk 

 that is unw'holesome and that may contain the germs of an infec- 

 tious disease. It appears, therefore, that distinct advantage would 

 accrue both to the producers of good milk and to consumers, if there 

 were such an inspection of dairies as would raise the standard of 

 those who are doing the poorest work and would exclude from the 

 market milk that is likely to be unwholesome. 



There is no question as to the wholesomness of good milk or 

 as to its importance in the dietary. There is scarcely any other 

 food that is more nourishing, or that is so easily assimilable, and 

 tew that are as cheap. There is, therefore, _every reason why milk 

 should be consumed in large quantities by the people of towns and 

 cities. A feature that has served heretofore to restrict the de- 

 mand for milk has been the suspicious character of some of the 

 milk that has been sold and lack of confidence in the general supply. 



Milk is peculiar in that it may not show evidence of serious de- 

 fects. The appearance of milk has little and often no relation to 

 Its wholesomeness; therefore, to a greater extent than with any 

 other food, it is necessary for the consumer to have confidence in 

 the quality of this product. 



The consumption of milk per capita in the various cities of the 



7—6—100.3 



