16 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



by the commissioners with respect to the production and sale of milk 

 are, in the opinion of the committee, clearly within the authority 

 vested by law ; and that the regulations, as at present in force, recog- 

 nize a distinction in the amount of space, light, and ventilation to be 

 provided in barns according to the number of cows stabled therein. 



On the other hand, the committee is clear in its belief that, unless 

 washing, bottling, and capping machines and other apparatus be 

 uniformly insisted upon, no demerit should be recorded against the 

 small dealer not possessing these appurtenances. 



USE OF CONCRETE FLOORS. 



In order to arrive at an intelligent conclusion on the subject of the 

 use of concrete floors in stabling cows the committee invited an ex- 

 pression of opinion from health officers throughout the country. 

 Approximately 75 per cent of those responding to its inquiry consider 

 the stabling of cows in this manner practicable, though in several 

 cases the necessity of this requirement is questioned. Since, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Woodward, there is no objection to laying a wooden or 

 other floor over the concrete and of using such clean bedding as may 

 be desired, the committee perceives no proper objection to the sensi- 

 bleness of this sanitary precaution, and is supported by the authori- 

 ties consulted by it in the view that stabling in this manner does not 

 tend to cause rheumatism in the animaL Dr. Levy, chief health 

 officer of Richmond, Va., observes that there is no tendency to cause 

 rheumatism if proper bedding be used. He states : 



We have concrete floors in nearly every cow barn in Richmond and have had 

 no complaint whatever of injury to the cow. 



The health officer of Seattle, Wash.,' adds: 



We have as healthy stock as there is in the world, and many of our stables 

 have concrete floors. 



EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES ON THE PRICE OF MILK. 



In regard to the claim adduced by the producers and dealers that 

 the proposed changes in existing regulations, including the insistence 

 on the tuberculin" test, the maintenance of low temperatures and 

 pasteurization, would greatly increase the price of milk, both in 

 winter and in summer, rendering the purchase of this commodity im- 

 possible by the poorer classes, the committee is of the opinion that an 

 increase beyond 10 cents per quart is not likely to ensue, which price, in 

 the judgment of the committee, will not prohibit, nor even curtail to 

 any considerable degree, the liberal and abundant use of milk by the 

 poorer classes. The committee is confirmed in this belief by the fact 

 that milk answering all of these requirements is now furnished at 

 less than 10 cents per quart by at least one local concern, apparently 

 at a profit, and by at least two others at that figure, and there is no 

 reason to believe that a maximum price of 10 cents per quart for 

 milk ordinarily supplied will not. suffice to effect such an increased 

 compensation per gallon or per pound to the farmer as will enable 

 him to meet the added requirements of the health department, not 

 only without loss to himself, but with a fair profit. 



The effect which may be anticipated on the price of milk is, it 

 can not be gainsaid, a most important consideration in the solution 



