CHAPTEK XI. 



FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF LEGISLATIVE 

 MILK CONTROL. 



The practical inauguration of milk hygiene is, of course, only 

 possible where proper laws and ordinances are at our command 

 for the accomplishment of the result. The laws, regulations and 

 ordinances of the various states and municipalities promulgated 

 for the purpose of controlling the milk supply lack uniformity in 

 many of their essential requirements, and it is apparent that these 

 measures were drafted to meet the conditions prevailing in the 

 different localities. Furthermore, a general federal control of the 

 milk supply cannot be considered practicable, except possibly in 

 so far as interstate shipments of milk may be involved. 



The individual states may foster the interests of public health 

 by the inauguration of such legislative measures as will assure a 

 wholesome and clean milk supply for the different municipalities 

 within the state, particularly when the necessity prevails for the 

 shipment of milk from long distances to a city. For this purpose 

 the state might well be divided into districts, supervised by com- 

 petent inspectors who would primarily inspect the cattle and 

 stables, the methods of producing the milk and its transportation. 

 Such inspectors could also be of splendid service in the control 

 and possible eradication of contagious diseases which not only 

 may have an effect on milk production, but which are also of im- 

 portance to animal industry in general. 



The largest proportion of actual control work, however, will 

 have to be carried out by the different municipalities, where, with 

 proper ordinances and with competent inspectors and laboratory 

 officials, an efficient control could be maintained which would assure 

 a wholesome milk supply to the consumers. It is apparent that 

 such ordinances must be drafted to meet the local conditions, which 

 would depend upon the dairying industry in that section, the num- 

 ber of the population and the feelings of the people. 



While there exists no uniformity in the regulations govern- 

 ing milk inspection and milk hygiene in general in the different 

 parts of the United States, the necessity for at least a uniform 

 standard has been met in a most satisfactory manner. After con- 

 siderable agitation medical milk commissions were organized in 



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