304 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF MILK HYGIENE 



The first rules designed for this purpose were those contained 

 in an agreement entered into by a medical milk commission and 

 the dairyman concerned. 2 



The rules contained in the original agreement mentioned rep- 

 resented the essential requirements for the production of certified 

 milk. Following this precedent, other commissions were organ- 

 ized, which, in 1906, became federated into a national associa- 

 tion known as the American Association of Medical Milk Com- 

 missions. 



A fundamental object of this Association, was to bring about 

 the uniformity of standards and their perfection. This result 

 has been reached by the adoption from time to time of definite 

 standards relating to the veterinary inspection of herds and 

 farms, the medical inspection of employees handling the milk, 

 and the bacteriological and chemical examinations as to quality 

 and purity. The requirements with respect to these four topics 

 have been previously reported upon by committees and adopted 

 by the Association, and at its last annual meeting provision 

 was made for their further revision and amplification. 



ORGANIZATION OF MEDICAL MILK COMMISSIONS 



The Medical Milk Commission is appointed by a representa- 

 tive medical society, and acts under its auspices and for it, to 

 encourage the production of milk of the highest possible stand- 

 ards of purity. No commission should be considered as certi- 

 fying milk that does not conform to the standards adopted from 

 time to time by the Association of Medical Milk Commissions. 

 The commission should include at least five members or a num- 

 ber sufficient to become responsible for and to carry on the follow- 

 ing divisions of work ; (a) The hygiene of the dairy, as it relates 

 to the production and distribution of the milk; (b) the veteri- 

 nary supervision of the herd; (c) the medical supervision of the 

 employees; (d) the chemical and bacteriological examinations 

 of the milk. 



2 Bui. 56, Hygienic Laboratory, Public Health and Marine 

 Hospital Service, p. 615. 



