88 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



of the Commonwealth. This would be a stupendous undertaking, 

 and would require the expenditure of a largo sum of money, if an 

 exhaustive and careful examination wore to be instituted. 



The sweet, fresh and pure flavor of milk from a healthy cow is 



hardly ever mistaken by those who arc well or invalid. It is also 

 equally true that sickness and death may follow the use of germ- 

 laden milk, or that which has boon heavily dosed with formaldehyde 

 and other preservatives. The drastic measures proposed by some 

 persons are impracticable at this time, but it is confidently believed 

 that by the co-operation of the State and local health authorities, 

 a marked improvement in general conditions can be secured. In 

 numerous cases, local boards of health are averse to performing their 

 bounden duties, preferring that the State authorities should assume 

 the entire responsibility and expense of examining the milk supply 

 of their respective cities and boroughs. It is plainly evident that an 

 educational campaign is necessary, and that if dairymen were to per- 

 sist in selling unwholesome milk and cream, and fail to comply 

 with even the most ordinary but sensible sanitary requirements 

 regarding healthy cattle, proper stabling, feed and cleanliness, that 

 they should be amenable. 



The heavy infant mortality in cities is but one of the several dire 

 penalties inflicted by the sale and use of unclean, unwholesome and 

 chemically preserved milk. The tuberculous cow is another menace 

 to our health and lives, but the number is being gradually reduced 

 to a minimum through the excellent work done under the direction 

 of Dr. Leonard Pearson, State Veterinarian, and the State Live 

 Stock Sanitary Board. Dairy bacteriology has made marked strides 

 in the best dairy interests, while the public demand a still higher 

 standard. In general, the outlook for the future milk supply is most 

 encouraging. 



ILLEGAL USE OF MILK PRESERVATIVES. 



A well informed and prosperous dairyman informed the Dairy and 

 Food Commissioner that the crusade made against dairymen two 

 years ago, who used formaldehyde and other preservatives in milk 

 and cream, had produced a salutary effect and an almost phenomenal 

 change for the better in milk supplies, generally. In extenuation 

 of the vast amount of harm done to health previous to the rigid 

 enforcement of the laws, the same dairyman further declared that 

 in many cases, the purchasers of the so-called "harmless" preserva- 

 tives were duped by glib-tongued agents misrepresenting their 

 harmful compounds, and assuring the buyer that they were not 

 only in full compliance with all milk and food laws, but perfectly 

 harmless. As is well known, formaldehyde, commonly used for em- 

 balming dead bodies, was extensively sold under various names as a 

 milk preservative. The same authority further reported that an 

 examination showed that certain makers of preservatives had placed 

 upon the market a liquid costing them, in bulk, 5 or 10 cents a 

 gallon, and sold it at fl.00 to 11.50 per gallon. These manufac- 

 turers will no doubt continue their opposition to any pure food leg- 

 islation that might tend to still further increase public confidence 

 in the purity and integrity of the milk and food supply of Pennsyl- 

 vania. The consequent decreased demand for their vile compounds 

 is a heavy loss of profits, and it is to be hoped that the demand for 



