284 THE MILK QUESTION 



comes under suspicion. As a matter of fact, investigations 

 in many cities have shown that loose milk is usually very 

 poor milk, dirty and full of bacteria. The mothers of the 

 poor often buy such milk for their babies, because it is 

 somewhat cheaper than bottled milk. 



In New York the Committee for Reduction of Infant 

 Mortality found that the loose milk declared by the De- 

 partment of Health to be unfit for babies is used by a large 

 proportion of mothers in the poor districts. The commit- 

 tee investigated 182 shops that sell about 14,000 quarts 

 of loose milk daily and found these stores to be operated 

 under most unsanitary conditions. Many were filthy, foul- 

 smelling, and swarming with flies, and the utmost careless- 

 ness manifested in the care and handling of the milk. 



The bacteriological examination of the milk in Boston 

 shows that the poorest milk is sold from stores. Boston 

 has a limit of 500,000 bacteria per cubic centimetre. The 

 relative percentages of the samples of milk that exceeded 

 this number according to Board of Health figures were as 

 follows : 



At the place of production 1.5 per cent 



Upon cars on arrival at city 12.4 



From peddlers' wagons 45.6 



Stores 71.5 



Similar conditions have been found in Chicago, New 

 York, and other cities where the matter has been investi- 

 gated. As a rule, these stores are located in those districts 

 of the city which has the highest infant mortality. The 

 prohibition of the dip-tank, therefore, discourages the sale 

 of this low grade of milk. 



Tanks with faucets at the bottom and good fitting lids 

 present less objection if well cared for. But even in this 

 case the milk must frequently be stirred before it is drawn, 

 otherwise the first purchaser will receive all skim milk 

 and the last all cream. Most cities now forbid milk to 



