94 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



years of experience, it is claimed that to-day it is impossible to use formalin 

 in daily products without detection; in fact, there are those who claim that 

 even in the proportion of one part to 500,000 parts of milk, its presence can be 

 detected by the expert analyst. 



In the City of Chicago, the Health Department found that in 1S91, the year 

 before the attempt at a laboratory and milk inspection was begun, there were 

 12.801 deaths among 145,095 infants and children under five years of age — a 

 ratio of 886 in every 10,000 of this age period. In 1904 there were 7.052 deaths 

 among 208,893 infants and children below five years of age, showing a rate 

 of 337 instead of 866 in every 10,000 of this age period. With recent years, 

 this figure has been still further reduced, but not to the same extent, pro- 

 portionately, because of the improved sanitary conditions and the strict in- 

 spection of all dairy supplies. In Pennsylvania, the conditions were, if pos- 

 sible, even worse, and the Dairy and Food Commissioner was therefore obliged 

 to impose many and heavy fines before the evil practice was controlled. 



DANGER IN MILK WHERE TYPHOID EXISTS. 



At various times the Dairy and Food Division received complaints from 

 persons who asserted that milk and cream were being sold or peddled by the 

 members of families in which typhoid fever prevailed. While it is the purpose 

 of this office to assist in maintaining a proper sanitary condition and to urge 

 strict cleanliness, it is not within its power to take the heroic action that 

 would be suggested by such complaints. The matter very properly comes 

 under the jurisdiction of the State Health Department, and consequently all 

 such complaints are promptly referred to that important bureau for imme- 

 diate attention. Commissioner Dixon formulated and promulgated special reg- 

 ulations governing the care, use and sale of milk in families in which certain 

 contagious or infectious diseases exist, and will insist upon a strict compliance. 

 ' In nearly all instances where typhoid fever is abnormally prevalent, its in- 

 fection and spread can be traced to faeces-polluted water or the milk supply. 

 One of the most unfortunate conditions in the smaller towns and villages is in 

 the fact that no one is willing to interfere with the sale of the milk that may 

 come from such diseased producers, because of the personal animosity that 

 might follow, the loss of trade or other causes. Whether we slake our thirst 

 from the village well or drink the appetizing milk, there is an element of 

 danger that cannot be overlooked. Truly, pure and uncontaminated water 

 and fresli, sweet and pure milk cannot be too highly rated, being simply be- 

 yond price. Every possible influence to increase this supply should be exerted 

 for the public good and the protection of life. 



PURE MILK FOR CHILDREN. 



It is often said that the food laws of this Commonwealth are drastic, and 

 that in some instances they may work unwarranted hardships upon those who 

 are found guilty of violations. The Chinese take a much more serious view 

 of the effect of adulteration on the public health, as by Chinese laws, such 

 infractions at one time were punishable by death. 



Among the many complaints that reached this Bureau, were letters which 

 came from families who alleged that the health of their infants was being 

 jeopardized by the sale and use of milk which was believed to be adulterated, 

 chemically preserved, or below the normal standard. 



As the child is usually fed by measure rather than according to the richness 

 of the milk, the result is that it will eventually suffer loss of health if the 

 milk is lacking the proper nutritive strength, and even this reduced nutritive 

 value may be materially reduced if not entirely eliminated by the addition of 

 some chemical preservative to the milk. 



Under these circumstances, it is well that the proper local authorities should 

 keep in close contact with the dairymen of their respective districts, for in no 

 other manner can they accomplish more genuine good. With the nourishing 

 power of milk abstracted or reduced, by watering or skimming, the infant and 

 invalid will certainly becorm a helpless victim to this unpardonable form of 

 adulteration. 



CITY AND BOROUGH MILK DEPOTS NEED INSPECTION. 



Legislation is urgently needed in this Commonwealth in connection with its 

 thousands of "milk depots." Laws should provide for a frequent and rigid in- 

 spection of all milk depots wherever established, and the needed officers should 

 work under the direction of State authority. The penalty for a violation could 

 be fixed at a reasonable amount; for example, from $5 to $25, and thus the 

 party guilty of a violation, would not be seriously embarrassed, and though 

 poor and honest, if he accidentally permitted the establishment to get below 

 the standard, he could pay the fine. The law should provide that habitual and 

 willful offenders should be indefinitely barred from the milk business. 



