PUBLIC PROBLEMS IQI 



COMPULSORY PASTEURIZATION 



It has been evident from the facts already considered that it 

 is extremely difficult, probably impossible, to put safeguards 

 around the milk sufficient to guarantee positively its wholesome- 

 ness. But this can be done by the simple plan of compulsory 

 pasteurization. It is impossible to guarantee that the milk that 

 comes to our cities contains no harmful bacteria, but it is per- 

 fectly possible to destroy them by heat after the milk reaches 

 the city, and thus guarantee the milk that is sold to the con- 

 sumer. Should the officials who have power in the matter in- 

 sist upon pasteurization of all milk offered for public consump- 

 tion? Over this question there is a growing agitation. 1 



Compulsory pasteurization has been adopted in some of the 

 countries in northern Europe for all the milk products that 

 reach the creameries, cheese factories, etc., but the suggestion 

 of adopting it for the ordinary milk supply is new. In its favor 

 is urged the fact that only thus can the public be positively pro- 

 tected against tuberculosis and other diseases distributed by 

 milk. No dairy inspection, however much money is put into 

 it, can give such a guarantee. Dairymen cannot all be made 

 careful and cleanly, and even if they were, there would still 

 be the danger from tuberculosis and walking typhoid. Pasteur- 

 ization alone can insure freedom from disease germs. On the 

 other hand, it is urged that although pasteurization is desirable 

 and useful, it should be left to the individual to determine 

 whether he wishes to adopt it. To be of value it must be thor- 

 ough. We have noticed how inefficient the process may be 

 when improperly carried out, and hence to be of real value it 

 must be under public control, and under the inspection of the 

 proper authorities. This would involve compulsory pasteuriza- 

 tion, which would make it ordinarily impossible for the in- 

 dividual to obtain unpasteurized milk, if he wished to do so. 



1 Brown. Arch, of Pediatrics, p. 251, 1903. 



