22 



From W. I. Bartholomew, secretary and treasurer Connecticut Dairy- 

 men's Association, Putnam, Conn. : 



The matter of the adulteration of foods and drugs has been several times discussed 

 in the meetings of our association and the consensus of the opinions was that such 

 adulterations prevailed to an alarming extent, and that preventive laws were much 

 needed. A bill for this purpose was presented to our last legislature, but for some 

 reason failed to secure passage. But we secured a law, about to take effect, that 

 oleomargarine, if offered for sale, shall not resemble yellow butter. It is stated that 

 in consequence of this but 5 dealers have taken out licenses as against 69 last year, 

 and over 200 in Rhode Island (which is in the same revenue district) this year. I 

 think the brands of foods and drugs should honestly indicate their character. 



DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



The Washington Star of April 8, 1893, contained the two folio wing- 

 articles, which need no comment : 



INFANTS AND ADULTERATED MILK. 



As shown by Dr. John S. Billings, in his recent lecture before the Sanitary League 

 of the District, the death rate of colored infants under one year of age in this city 

 is 696 out of every 1,000, and of white infants of the same age 273 per 1,000. Right 

 behind this appalling statement comes the almost equally startling statement of the 

 superintendent of dairy products, Chemist J. 1). Hird, that "90 per cent of the milk 

 coming into Washington is robbed of part of its cream, and 50 per cent of it is 

 colored." 



May not this oe the explanation of the enormous death rate of infants dining their 

 first year, when milk alone forms their sole article of nourishment f It seems to me 

 that this is a vital question, and demands pretty serious consideration from the 

 District Commissioners, and if not from them then from the Sanitary League. 



The chancellor of the Maryland Board of Health reports that 3,673 more infants 

 died during the year 1882 in the city of New York, when there were no milk inspect- 

 ors, than during 1883, when the milk inspectors were at work confiscating adulter- 

 ated milk. 



The city chemist of New Orleans, in his report to the board of health, thows that 

 New Orleans has been paying $300,000 yearly for the water to adulterate the milk 

 supply of that city. 



In addition to the evils of adulteration there are others connected with our milk 

 supply which demand the most careful scrutiny. It has been conclusively proven 

 that milk from a tuberculous cow may contain the bacilli of tuberculosis. From 

 inspection, through the water added to the milk, or even from the water used in 

 cleansing the milk cans, the germs of typhoid fever, diphtheria, scarlet fever, and 

 cholera may be introduced into the human system. It has been demonstrated (see 

 Brit.M. J. for January, 1893) that cows may contract scarlet fever and induce the 

 disease in children through the milk. 



M. Miguel, in Chi. J. of the Royal Microscopical Society, says he found in 1 cubic 

 centimeter (about 16 drops) of milk, on its arrival at his laboratory only two hours 

 after being taken from the cow, 9,000 microorganisms. In one hour more the num- 

 ber had increased to 31,750, while in twenty-four hours after leaving the cow the 16 

 drops contained over 5,000.000 germs. 



Prof. Bang, of Copenhagen, observes that bacilli of tuberculosis found in milk, 

 cream, and butter were not destroyed by scalding at a temperature of 150 F. Even 

 160 did not render milk free from disease-breeding germs. 



