No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 95 



The unsanitary conditions that surround many of the small milk depots in 

 the larger cities are intolerable. The rooms in which milk and cream are kept 

 and sold too often are of a most disgusting character and abominably filthy, 

 lacking ventilation and all pretense of cleanliness. As many cases of sickness, 

 including typhoid fever and other contagious diseases, are directly traced to 

 the sale of infected milk, there are special reasons for co-operating with all the 

 authorities to bring- about an improved condition in the direction indicated. 

 Not only every room in the house in which milk and cream are sold should be 

 kept scrupulously clean, but a milk depot, which should invariably be located in 

 a sanitary place. 



INSPECTING CREAMERIES, MILK STATIONS, ETC. 



The continued agitation for the fi-equent inspection of dairies and milk depots 

 has caused much discussion, pro and con. The farmers and others who were 

 opposed to the proposed examination of milk and milk supplies happily are in 

 the minority,- as the leading large producers realize that with improved facili- 

 ties and increased production, combined with a superior quality, there is 

 nothing to fear or lose, but all to gain. A dairyman or farmer is entitled to 

 every possible consideration — no more nor less protection than any other man, 

 firm or corporation engaged in producing or handling milk or any other article 

 of food. 



In the general house-cleaning that has been conducted during recent years, 

 creameries, shipping stations, canning establishments, packing houses, milk 

 stores, etc., have all been subject to public scrutiny, and no classes should be 

 exempted. The Dairy and Food Commissioner is determined that the public 

 shall be supplied with pure, clean and wholesome food products. Tiie best in- 

 formation obtainable indicates that of the entire amount of milk produced, 

 not more than two per cent, is regarded as unsafe; let this small proportion 

 be reduced still further, if it cannot be entirely eliminated by judicious and 

 heroic treatment. 



MILK TESTS AT CREAMERIES URGED. 



During the past year a number of proprietors of creameries have written 

 to this Bureau, requesting that the milk that was being delivered to them by 

 their patrons should be analyzed or tested at more or less regular intervals 

 by the State in order that they might be protected against possible imposition. 



The Dairy and Food Bureau could not possibly meet these requests with the 

 present force of special agents, to say naught about the increased appropriation 

 that w'ould be needed. While the Dairy and Food Commissioner would be 

 pleased to co-operate with the creamerymen to bring about the absolute purity 

 and cleanliness of the entire milk supply, he cannot, for the reasons already 

 specified, grant such requests, and can only suggest that there should be a 

 more general use of the Babcock-test and the lactometer. These instruments 

 will give all the information necessary regarding the composition of milk 

 delivered to the creameries or milk depots, and as both tests are compara- 

 tively inexpensive and simple, their adoption is therefore strongly urged. 



Many of the leading creamery proprietors of the State have been compelled 

 to keep fully informed at all times as to the quality of their milk supplies, 

 and in consequence are realizing increased profits. No time is set for making 

 such examinations, and consequently patrons are aware that their milk may 

 be examined at any time, and they will therefore desist from watering or 

 skimming. Some of the larger creameries have complete weekly records of the 

 milk received from their patrons, covering years, and when required, they can 

 at a glance show the average composition of each individual supply received 

 during a term of years. 



QUESTIONABLE ARTICLES IN MILK AND CREAM. 



"Cream thickeners," coloring materials for use in milk and cream, and the 

 many articles of uncertain and unknown composition used in the manufacture 

 of ice-cream, have been under serious suspicion. Sucrate of lime or gelatin 

 used as a "thickener" may be very properly termed a fraud in milk products. 

 Reputable manufacturers and jobbers in dairy supplies long ago discredited 

 many of these doubtful and uncertain preparations, and this aided the Divi- 

 sion in the work of educating the people to their harmful and deceptive char- 

 acter. 



It is the positive intention of the dairy and food officials to follow these vio- 

 lations of the law as vigorously as possible. With better laws and their more 

 rigid enforcement, the dairymen and milk producers of Pennsylvania are 

 already experiencing an increased demand for their product, since a long- 

 standing prejudice has at last been partly, if not entirely i-em.oved. The most 

 wholesome and useful of all food— good, pure, milk, is again being used more 

 freely since the confidence of the public has been restored. It is also indis- 

 putable that the present prices realized by the producer of pure milk are the 

 highest and perhaps the most remunerative known for a long term of years. 

 It has resolved itself into a question of absolute purity and quality, rather 

 than price. 



