NEW YORK MILK COMMITTEE 97 



cold, delivered fresh, and having a minimum bacterial content, 

 is reasonably safe milk. "Certified" Milk, however, represents 

 less than 1% of the total supply of milk for this city. The 

 problem, therefore, is to make reasonably safe the other 99 % 

 This supply comes from 44?,000 farms located in six states from 

 points ranging from 50 to 4*00 miles from the city. Thirty- 

 three Inspectors are detailed to the regular inspection of the 

 dairy farms supplying the 1,600,000 quarts of milk which are 

 shipped daily to New York. 



The dairies where less than 50% of sanitary requirements 

 exist, are excluded. 



A veterinary certificate is required from each dairyman an- 

 nually, showing that an examination has been made of the 

 dairy herd and that all animals found diseased upon a physical 

 examination, have been removed. Every dairyman reports 

 weekly the presence of any infectious disease on the dairy farm. 

 These are all investigated by Medical Inspectors, to see that all 

 precautions have been taken to protect the milk from con- 

 tamination. 



Such inspection is essential, and that work must go on, but 

 is that milk safe? Knowing as we do that a physical exam- 

 ination does not remove from a dairy herd those animals which 

 are a menace to the milk; knowing as we do that in cases of 

 disease, there is an uncertain period of incubation during which 

 time precautions are not always taken; knowing that after an 

 illness, there is an uncertain period of convalescence; and 

 knowing further that in the case of typhoid, there are carriers 

 of contagion, which carriers, being intermittent carriers, we 

 cannot protect ourselves or the milk against. I believe that 

 it is our duty to make this vast milk supply safe, and to pro- 

 tect it from these many factors of contamination by careful 

 and perfect pasteurization. 



The duty of the Health Department in its relation to the 

 Milk Supply has to do mainly with the death rate, especially 

 the death rate among infants. The milk supplies just outlined 

 give to all the option of two safe supplies for babies' use, and 

 I believe that through the press and every other avenue of 

 publicity, this statement should be given. "Milk safe for 

 babies must be, Grade No. 1 'Certified' or 'Guaranteed' 

 Milk, which may be fed raw. Grade No. 2 Pasteurized Milk, 



