THE MILK CONTRACTOR 



267 



Island. On the introduction by Mr. Straus of a pasteurizing plant at 

 the Institution the mortality rate dropped decidedly, although there 

 was no other change made in diet or hygiene. The reduction in the death 

 rate of children on the Island following the introduction of pasteurization 

 is shown in Table 80. 



TABLE 80. CHILDREN'S DEATH RATE AT RANDALL'S ISLAND, N. Y., PRIOR TO AND 

 SUCCEEDING THE INTRODUCTION OF PASTEURIZATION 



Straus' efforts to lower the infantile death rate by encouraging the 

 use of pasteurized milk attracted the attention of physicians, sanitarians 

 and others throughout the United States, especially as like favorable re- 

 sults were attained in Yonkers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati, 

 in all of which places he introduced pasteurized milk. In June, 1895, 

 Straus addressed a letter to the Mayor of every city in the United States 

 urging that the pasteurization of the milk of the poor should be an object 

 of municipal solicitude and in March, 1897, a letter of similar tenor but 

 setting forth his argument in more detail was sent to all Presidents of 

 Boards of Health in the United States and Canada. Furthermore, from 

 the inception of his work to 1912 he addressed scientific societies and other 

 bodies both in America and Europe in advocacy of the pasteurization 

 of milk and besides wrote magazine articles explaining the process and 

 urging the necessity of adopting it. 



Pasteurization Adopted by Milk Contractors. The position of milk 

 contractors about 1895 was becoming very difficult for the sources of milk 

 supply had been pushed further and further away from the city so that 

 milk was shipped from a considerable distance and took a long time to 

 reach the city; much of the milk was uniced and was carelessly handled in 



