No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 631 



The cost had been about two dollars, and now the milk was declared 

 good enough for anybody to drink. From this illustration we are led 

 to believe that the production of clean milk is not altogether a ques- 

 tion of greater cost, but, rather of habit. 



Responsibility of the Health Officer. 



Laws must be always in force for the willful lawbreaker, the care- 

 less and the ignorant, and the public should have a right to protect 

 itself from disease or any impure product. Some of our city health 

 departments have perhaps been a little too radical and have not always 

 met the producer half way. The health officer should have patience 

 and should endeavor to point out to the dairyman his faults and give 

 him a fair chance to improve before condemning him. Co-operating 

 is a good deal better than clubbing. Of course, it is understood that 

 the ])('isis.teutlv dirty dairyman must be dealt with with a firm hand; 

 but the point I want to emphasize is, that the majority of dairymen 

 are not wilfully dirty and that they are willing to do anything reason- 

 able. But they need to be condemned less, and assisted and instructed 

 and encouraged more. If the inspector could be looked upon as an 

 instructor rather than as an official inspector on police duty, many 

 of the difficulties between Health Boards and dairymen would dis- 

 appear. Such instruction should be given right at the dairy farm, 

 with the dairyman on the spot, and it should be given by capable 

 and practical men. The dairyman has often had good reason for 

 objecting to inspection. For example: An inspection force was 

 appointed in a Western city, recently, which consisted of an engineer, 

 a detective, a solicitor, a machinist, and an ex-policeman — a good 

 example of what poor politics is doing in some of our large cities. 



The Score Card System of Inspection. 



The score card system of dairy inspection has proved very valuable 

 to Jiealth officers in keeping records of all dairies in convenient form 

 for ready reference; in keeping tab on the work of dairy inspectors, 

 and as a basis for issuing permits. 



Advantages to the Inspector. 



The score card system shows the inspector what to look for, making 

 it impossible to overlook any point of importance. The ratings of 

 the dairies are kept as a permanent record by this system, and com- 

 parisons can readily be made from one inspector to another and im- 

 provements noted. It aids the inspector in making explanations to 

 the dairymen, and he becomes an instructor and friend, rather than 

 an officer whose visits are to be dreaded. 



Advantages to the Dairyman. 



The score card system points out details in the production and 

 handling of milk, thus making it clear where the defects are and 

 what ideal conditions should be. It encourages confidence among 

 dairymen, as they all feel that they are being treated alike. It also 

 leads to greater profits, as more attention is given to details, which 

 is an important factor in any business. 



