CONTROL OF THE PUBLIC MILK SUPPLY 429 



overinspected. It is certainly important that inspectors working in 

 the same district should have like standards and work in harmony. 

 Inspectors for contractors can be very useful by preparing the farmer's 

 mind for the instruction the official inspector has to give. Thus an 

 inspector for a dairy company by discussing bovine tuberculosis thor- 

 oughly with the dairymen may put them in a receptive mood to advance 

 the plans of a city or State to fight the disease. 



Inspection of Milk in Transit. Inspection of milk in transit is chiefly 

 concerned with seeing that the vehicles it is carried in are clean and 

 sweet, that the milk is sealed to prevent it being tampered with, that it 

 is protected from the sun and dirt and that it is kept cool. Inspection 

 at railroad terminals is usually limited to seeing that the milk arrives 

 at low temperature, to sampling the milk on arrival, to seeing that it is 

 promptly handled and that everything is kept in good sanitary condition. 

 Besides, it is ascertained that the empty cans, etc., are returned clean, 

 unrusted and unbattered. 



Milk Plant Inspection. The inspection of milk plants is very impor- 

 tant for while the milk that leaves the plant can never be a whit better 

 than that which comes in, it may be considerably worse if it is not handled 

 promptly and properly in clean utensils, unless the plant is kept scrupu- 

 lously clean and sufficient refrigeration is provided. All plants should be 

 scored on the card gotten up for that purpose by the Federal Government. 

 In case the milk is pasteurized the apparatus needs special attention. 

 Care should be taken to see that continuous temperature recorders are 

 in use and that the milk is exposed for the proper time to the prescribed 

 temperatures. Any indication that repasteurization of milk is practised 

 should be followed up and the custom stopped. Any filthy habits that 

 are observed in the employees should be called to the attention of the 

 manager. The general sanitary environment of the plant should be 

 investigated and it should be determined that the toilet accommodations 

 are adequate and sanitary. The expenses of a milk plant are heavy, 

 consequently the manager usually welcomes suggestions that promise 

 to effect saving. The effort should be made to keep the milk plant in 

 touch both with its producers and the public. 



In inspecting city milk plants it should be determined whether the 

 plant itself is suitable for the conduct of the business and whether it is 

 adequately equipped. There is no doubt but that in the past producers 

 have been blamed for all of the dirty milk that finds its way into the city 

 market and the responsibility of the city dealer for a large share of it 

 either has been unrecognized or ignored. In particular, those small 

 city dealers who are attempting to operate on too small capital are 

 accountable for a great deal of it and have been dealt with too leniently. 

 The efforts of a poor man to make a living out of a little milk business 

 excite sympathy, consequently such men have been allowed to conduct 



