state Dairy Association. 233 



This comparatively new movement has been inaugurated by physi- 

 cians rather than dairy leaders; its official machinery has been 

 put in operation at the instance of health boards rather than agri- 

 cultural departments; and its object has been better market milk 

 rather than higher flavored butter, although clean milk helps one 

 as well as the other. This modern dairy agitation is not in uni- 

 versal favor with milk producers. The attitude of antagonism 

 where it exists is to be deprecated because it is sure to end in de- 

 feat, for the agitation in favor of cleaner milk is based on proven 

 facts, and truth always prevails. Further than that, these milk 

 producers place themselves in a false light before the general 

 public and create a bad impression by facing backward and oppos- 

 ing progress; though it is only natural that a milk movement 

 originating largely outside of agricultural circles should be viewed 

 with suspicion. It is a principle of law and logic that the pre- 

 sumption is always in favor of the existing order of things and the 

 burden of proof is on those who would make a change; but many 

 health officers know so emphatically the danger from contaminat- 

 ed milk that they do not make plain to others what they see so 

 clearly themselves and they enact radical regulations without 

 taking the producers into their confidence. In addition, the en- 

 forcement of these orders is sometimes entrusted to people lacking 

 tact and employing unwise methods. 



Milk producers as a rule are reasonable, intelligent people 

 who desire to produce a proper article. But they don't under- 

 stand why customs and conditions which have been approved for 

 generations should suddenly be forbidden; the 2vhy of things 

 should be explained to them. They can be led better than they 

 can be driven. They should be approached in a friendly and help- 

 ful way rather than with the bearing of a policeman. But they 

 must be in a receptive frame of mind. The successful farmer is 

 receptive; is on the alert for new facts and is ready to receive 

 and adopt them. Let us receive the new light about milk in the 

 same spirit. Let us remember that physicians know more about 

 health matters than we do, and receive their assertions as we 

 do the statements of other investigators and specialists. 



WHY CLEANER MILK. 



What are the facts which warrant such increased attention 

 to the Nation's market milk supply and so many new rules re- 

 garding its production and distribution? Speaking broadly this 

 new phase of dairying rests on bacteriology which is a compara- 



