PUBLIC PROBLEMS 179 



be remembered that it does not render milk unwholesome simply 

 to have a considerable number of bacteria in it, provided these 

 are of the ordinary lactic acid type. The result is that the milk 

 of the well kept dairy may be condemned, while the milk of the 

 slovenly kept dairy may pass inspection, simply because in one 

 case a cooler temperature has been used, in spite of the fact 

 that the cooler temperature has not rendered the milk more 

 wholesome. This evidently makes a numerical standard unfair 

 to the dairyman. 



3. A numerical standard can under no conditions insure the 

 wholesomeness of milk. The wholesomeness of milk is de- 

 pendent upon the question as to whether it contains the types 

 of bacteria that are liable to produce trouble and not at all upon 

 the simple question of the number of bacteria present. A 

 numerical standard primarily aims at the question of temper- 

 ature and not at the question of cleanliness. Under these con- 

 ditions it is evident that no sample of milk that falls under a 

 numerical standard can be guaranteed as wholesome and none 

 that pass beyond it can be condemned as unwholesome. 



4. The enforcing of a numerical standard is very difficult. 

 Where it has been attempted the success of enforcing it has 

 been questionable. It is doubtful whether at the present time 

 it is possible by any legal measure to enforce a rule which would 

 require a numerical bacteria standard of milk. The only way 

 that it has been enforced is by certain communities having the 

 power to determine what milk may and may not be sold on the 

 market. Where this is done the milk inspector can refuse to 

 allow the sale of milk that comes from dairies producing milk 

 with high numbers of bacteria. This has been done in some 

 places with some success. 



Value of a Numerical Standard. In spite of these conditions 

 a numerical standard has certainly proved to be of value. Its 

 value, however, is indirect rather than direct. Where the 

 numerical standard has been made fairly small, it has been 



