No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 93 



City officials in some instances had their attention drawn to such reports, and 

 particularly where milk of inferior quality was sold, and in the meantime, 

 they will make an effort to secure a better and more wholesome milk supply. 

 One of tlie revelations of the examinations made by our chemists was, that 

 the Pasteurization of milk is not a remedy for its unsanitary method of pro- 

 duction; or in other words, while clean, Pasteurized milk is good, impure and 

 adulterated milk cannot be made right by Pasteurization. 



It is plainly evident that health commissioners should know more about 

 milk, and that they should not care about the enmity of the milk dealers whom 

 they arouse in the performance of their duties as officers of the law. The 

 Special Agents of this Bureau performed their sworn duty with fairness and 

 impartiality. 



BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS OF MILK. 



In the examination of thousands of samples of milk, there is a constantly 

 recurring demand made for bacteriological knowledge, but as stated in a pre- 

 ceding report of the Dairy and Pood Bureau, the main laboratory at Harris- 

 burg has not as yet been equipped with the proper facilities for making such 

 determinations. The average sample is tested for added water, chemical pre- 

 servatives, coal-tar colors, etc., and in addition the fat contents, as well as 

 solids are carefully determined by our chemists. 



The importance of making bacteriological tests is apparent, although In 

 cases where there is an outbreak of contagious or Infectious diseases in a 

 dairyman's family, the local health authorities usually assume control and 

 responsibility. They are advised by the State Department of Health as to the 

 proper course to pursue, so as to reduce the danger of spreading disease to a 

 minimum. 



In a compilation of laws recently issued by the State Health Department, 

 special attention is invited to this all-important subject, and there is no doubt 

 that the township, borough and city officials, generally, will co-operate and 

 thus render invaluable services to the people of the Commonwealth in com- 

 bating diseases at a time when they can be controlled. Where typhoid fever 

 appears in a dairyman's family, it is of the utmost importance that not a 

 drop of milk should be served to patrons or members of the family afflicted, 

 unless such milk comes from a source that is entirely above suspicion. With 

 the exercise of a little care and good sense, conditions can be materially im- 

 proved. 



MUNICIPAL EXAMINATION OF MILK SUPPLY. 



During the examinations made into the milk supply of many of the cities 

 and boroughs of the State, it was shown that probably no article of food is 

 being more generally consumed than milk, and a wholesome supply is there- 

 fore of the greatest importance. 



A peculiarity of the situation that forced itself upon the pure food authori- 

 ties was the wide variance in the manner in which local health officials looked 

 after the milk supply of their respective places. Several of the larger cities 

 have a thorough and practical system, while others appear indifferent and lack 

 even ordinary knowledge of the quality of the milk and cream that are being 

 served. 



It is suggested that a convention should be held where the organizations 

 interested, including sanitary commissions, could exchange views and devise 

 plans to improve the quality of market milk. That the representatives of such 

 bodies could devise plans and means that would be of inestimable benefit can- 

 not be gainsaid, and as the expense would be small, it is to be hoped such a 

 convention may be held at some central point during the coming year. 



The local legislation in force in some of the cities and boroughs might be 

 regarded as ample and sufficiently far-reaching, but in too many cases, politi- 

 cal and personal reasons may intervene and thus circumvent the otherwise 

 good work of those in authority. There is much encouragement gained by 

 reading the reports that come from Erie, as well as several other Pennsyl- 

 vania cities, where the public officials are vigilant, but there is room for 

 further improvement. 



THE VALUE OP MILK INSPECTIONS. 



One of the most remarkable results of the rigid examinations conducted into 

 the milk supplies of cities and boroughs, is the fact that the use of formalde- 

 hyde as a preservative of milk and cream is now almost entirely unknown, 

 while several years ago the adulterations with formalin reached as high as 

 twenty per cent. Other chemical preservatives were also employed. Possibly 

 there is no more powerful preventive of decomposition or souring of milk known, 

 but its harmfulness is undisputed, and in consequence, the miscreants using 

 the material were prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. With the im- 

 proved methods of chemistry and the practical knowledge derived through 



