226 THE MILK QUESTION 



to diametrically opposite conclusions. From a theoretical 

 standpoint some believe pasteurization to be an unsatis- 

 factory and very feeble way out of a very difficult situation. 

 From a practical standpoint others find pasteurization our 

 only practical safeguard, at least until the general supply 

 consists of good, clean, fresh, safe milk. 



One of the chief objections to pasteurization is that it 

 promotes carelessness and discourages the efforts to pro- 

 duce clean milk. It is believed that the general adoption of 

 pasteurization will set back the clean milk movement at 

 the source of supply and even encourage, dirty habits. It 

 will cause the farmer and those who handle the milk to 

 believe that it is unnecessary to be quite so particular, for 

 the dirt that gets into the milk is going to be cooked and 

 made harmless. However, it is not proposed that pasteur- 

 ization shall take the place of inspection and improvements 

 in dairy methods. Even though pasteurization is adopted 

 it does not mean that the health officer should relax his 

 vigilance, or cease inspection and other means to raise 

 the general quality of the milk. Even though milk is to be 

 pasteurized it does not mean that all milk should be 

 accepted for pasteurization. No milk should be pasteur- 

 ized that does not comply with certain reasonable chemi- 

 cal and bacteriological standards. To insure this end the 

 health officer must have authority to prevent the sale and 

 use of bad milk, whether or not pasteurization is prac- 

 ticed. 



The practical versus the theoretical side of this question 

 may well be illustrated by the attitude of an eminent sanita- 

 rian in New York who, in his writings and public addresses, 

 discourages pasteurization because theoretically it does 

 not reach the source of the evil and because it is not the 

 ideal. However, when this same sanitarian is consulted by 

 a large contractor who handles many thousands of quarts 

 of miscellaneous milk a day, he is confronted by a condi- 

 tion, not a theory, and advises pasteurization ! 



