62 CONFERENCE ON MILK PROBLEMS 



come as near meeting those requirements as possible. Two 

 methods are open; first, extension of dairy inspection as at 

 present conducted, supplemented by pasteurization under of- 

 ficial supervision; second, rigid medical and veterinary super- 

 vision over the production and handling of milk, and enforce- 

 ment of the tuberculin test. 



If the second method is to be relied upon, some system must 

 be adopted whereby there will be reciprocity between the sev- 

 eral States and communities within those States. In other 

 words, the effort should be to secure uniformity of methods and 

 standards in the production of milk, and cooperation of fed- 

 eral, State, and municipal authorities in their enforcement. 



In sanitary matters the "every man for himself" policy has 

 too long prevailed, and, while it has resulted in more or less 

 effective protection of milk supplies of many of the cities of the 

 country, sanitary administration in rural districts has suf- 

 fered in consequence. An efficient sanitary service for the 

 country as a whole can only be secured through cooperation 

 of the federal, state and municipal authorities. If New York 

 City in common with other communities were to adopt ap- 

 proved standards of milk production and transportation, and 

 require certificates of inspection from the health authorities 

 in those districts from which its supply comes, it would have 

 a wonderful influence in the development of an efficient sani- 

 tary inspection service that would cover the country. 



I believe this plan is practicable, although it would take 

 time to inaugurate and perfect it. It would be a means also 

 whereby federal and state authorities could discharge their 

 duties in the interest of those communities that are not now 

 able to maintain expensive inspection services. 



The Surgeon-General of the Public Health and Marine Hos- 

 pital Service has aided in every way possible the campaign for 

 safe milk, and encouraged the compilation of data showing the 

 extent and influence of the use of such milk among infants. 

 But he realizes that more definite results could be attained by 

 strengthening the hands of federal, State and municipal health 

 authorities, and increasing their effective cooperation. 



There appears to me to be a way by which this might be 

 accomplished with the view of reducing the liability of the 

 spread of contagious and infectious diseases. The Act of 



