PUBLIC PROBLEMS. 



179 



suspicion of. filth contamination. The milk from these dairies is 

 certainly superior to the ordinary milk, but the production is so 

 expensive that it must be sold at a high price, and this has interfered 

 with the commercial success of some of these enterprises. What is 

 known as certified milk has, in recent years, come into some promi- 

 nence. This is milk produced in dairies that are under the inspec- 

 tion of a certifying board. This board, usually composed, in part at 

 least, of physicians, keeps a constant oversight of the milk from cer- 

 tain dairies and over the methods of its production. If they find that 

 the milk comes up to the somewhat high standard that they set, and 

 if they are convinced that proper methods are used in its production, 

 this board gives to that dairy the right to use its certificates. It is 

 not so expensive to produce milk under these conditions as to carry 

 out the many precautions adopted by the sanitary dairies. Some 

 extra care is needed, but it is within the reach of almost any well 

 kept farm to produce certified milk. This milk brings a higher 

 price than ordinary milk, but it is more reliable because more care 

 has been required- to produce it. Neither sanitary milk nor certi- 

 fied milk forms anything more than a very small portion of the milk- 

 supply of our cities. 



Dairy Inspection. During recent years the practice of inspect- 

 ing dairies has sprung up. This was started first by some of the 

 milk-supply companies of the large cities, because they wished to 

 protect their supply for commercial purposes. Some of them began, 

 at least a dozen years ago, to send inspectors periodically among the 

 dairies which furnished them with milk. Within a few years it 

 has been realized that a public dairy inspection of this sort would 

 be of great value in improving the general milk-supply and in 

 furnishing the public with better milk. Such a public dairy inspec- 

 tion has been begun in some sections around the larger cities. 

 The inspectors visit the farms, note all methods employed, condemn 

 the faulty ones and make suggestions as to improvement. The 

 inspection is for the advantage of the consumer and producer, 

 and the dairyman should welcome rather than resent such visits 

 and helpful suggestions. 



The inspectors give attention to the following points: i. 



