204 Milk Control. 



if the cost of all other foodstuffs continues to rise. There aro no 

 means by which the nutrition of the people could be increased to 

 better advantage than by increasing their consumption of milk, 

 since it has not yet reached the high point warranted by the value 

 of milk as a nutritive substance. 



From the various discussion in this work, the importance of 

 supplying consumers with milk of good quality is apparent. An 

 increase in milk consumption is of equal importance to the interest 

 of the nutrition of the people and to the interest of agriculture. 

 This increase however can only be obtained when, in addition to 

 an educational propaganda regarding the nutritive value and cost 

 of milk, care is taken to rectify the generally existing evils attend- 

 ing its production, by which means the milk will be brought up to 

 a standard, which may reasonably be required of any food. There- 

 fore it should not only be unadulterated but must be produced and 

 delivered in a clean manner, in an unspoiled, fresh condition, and 

 possess no disease-producing properties. 



The important significance of healthy milk as food for the people, especially for 

 infants, has been emphasized by physicians, hygienists and veterinarians in numerous 

 special articles, which have argued for and against the desirability of gaining nutrition 

 through the use of market milk. Public interest and private philanthropy have 

 accomplished a great deal of good by the establishment of infant milk depots. Such 

 establishments are frequently attached to the abattoirs, and are conducted under the 

 successful direction of veterinarians. It is impossible to enter here into a discussion 

 of such establishments, since this field constitutes only a small branch of the great 

 question of the milk supply. 



While the determination of the causes of the so-called dis- 

 eases of nutrition may not yet be sufficiently clear, the general and 

 local surroundings of the patient or other conditions may influence 

 the course of these diseases. This is particularly true in summer 

 mortalities of children, as in these diseases various conditions, such 

 as want of natural nutrition, faulty housing, etc., may all play a 

 part as factors. Nevertheless, from the experience of specialists 

 the conclusion must be drawn that a strict sanitary police con- 

 trol must be established in order to protect human health as much 

 as possible from the ills occasioned by dangerous milk. 



Such harm may result from the consumption of: 



1. Milk from diseased animals, 



2. Milk originally wholesome but which has been subse- 

 quently contaminated with bacteria pathogenic for man, 



3. Milk, which has been spoiled by any kind of decomposi- 

 tion, or which is beginning to spoil, 



4. Milk containing chemical preserving substances. 



These are briefly the points which in themselves prove the 

 value of hygienic control of the milk traffic, and their elimination, 

 with as much consideration as possible for the economic impor- 

 tance of the various factors, must be constantly kept in mind. 



A proper execution of sanitary police regulations governing 

 milk traffic is not only of importance for the health of the people 



