550 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ' Off. Doc. 



There is no small qiiautity of milk sold that has been handled by 

 a plan that is far from sanitary. Some of it is spoiled and some is 

 even dangerous to use as food. Many of the diseases of children 

 are caused by drinking such milk. No one knows this better than 

 the physician. It was for this reason that the Pediatric Society — a 

 society composed of physicians who are especially interested in the 

 diseases of children — appointed a committee a few years since to 

 devise some plan by which a better milk supply might be obtained 

 for the children under their care. This resulted in the establish- 

 ment of the Milk Commission of the Pediatric Society of Philadel- 

 phia. This Commission issues certificates to all persons who comply 

 with its requirements. Milk handled under these conditions is 

 known as "Certified Milk." 



The rules require that three inspectors shall be employed by the 

 Commission and paid by the dairyman. These inspectors are a vet- 

 erinarian, a bacteriologist, and a chemist. They are to report to the 

 commission at least once each month. The prices for the examina- 

 tions are fixed by the Commission and are at least ten dollars for 

 each inspection made by the veterinarian, and five dollars each for 

 the bacteriologist and chemist. 



When a person desires to sell Certified Milk, he applies to the 

 Secretary who explains to him the requirements of the Commission. 

 If the applicant is satisfied with the conditions he signs the agree- 

 ment. The veterinarian is then requested to make the inspection 

 of the dairy. He is to report fully on the conditions as he finds them 

 and if satisfactory to the Commission, the bacteriologist and chem- 

 ist are asked to make their inspection and report. 



The person in charge must be above the average for ability and 

 thoroughly interested in the subject of dairying as upon him will 

 depend largely the success or failure of the enterprise. The cows 

 must be healthy and free from tuberculosis as shown by the tuber- 

 culin test. Plenty of windows must be provided in the stable to 

 allow an abundance of light. There must be some satisfactory 

 system of ventilation in active use that will keep the atmosphere of 

 the room free from stable odors. The gutters and drains must be 

 sufficient to keep the cows dry and clean. The stable should be 

 ceiled and used exclusively for cows and so constructed that it and 

 the cows can be kept clean at all times with a reasonable amount of 

 work. 



The milk must be cooled and bottled in an atmosphere that is free 

 from odors or dust in a room apart from the stable. 



The water supplied must be pure and cool and the milk house 

 equipped with hot and cold water, steam sterilizer and ice or cold 

 storage. 



If the veterinarian can make a favorable report on all these con- 

 ditions, the bacteriologist and chemist are requested to make their 

 inspections. 



The bacteriologist determines the amount or extent of germ life 

 in the milk as it is to be delivered to the consumer. The commis- 

 sion requires that it shall not exceed 10,000 germs per cubic centi- 

 metre or about sixteen drops. 



Milk that is drawn in a cleanly way into an uncontaminated pail 

 from a reasonably clean, healthy cow, in an undefiled atmosphere, 

 that is promptly cooled, hermetically sealed and kept cool will pass 



