22 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



Mr. Trundle, in his statement before the committee, ascribed the 

 shortage of the local milk supply during the past few months to the 

 unnecessary oppressiveness of the regulations of the health depart- 

 ment and the expense of meeting its requirements (with the exception 

 of the enforcement of the tuberculin test) ; to the harassment of ship- 

 pers, the odiousness of inspection, and the unusually protracted 

 period of drought. 



As referred to elsewhere in this report (p. 20), it will appear, from 

 an examination of the accompanying statement (Appendix K), fur- 

 nished through the courtesy of Dr. William C. Woodward, health 

 officer, that the number of cattle supplying milk on June 30, 1910, 

 for consumption in the District of Columbia was estimated to be 

 17,688, and that upward of 19,000 gallons of milk and cream are daily 

 consumed by the Washington public. The statement of the health 

 officer, which embraces a compilation of the best available data on the 

 subject, shows a gradual increase in the number of milch cows fur- 

 nishing the District milk supply, though it must be admitted that 

 the increment does not correspond with the increase in population. 

 Suffice it to say, however, that the amount of milk furnished daily 

 for local consumption has, with the exception principally of the 

 period of exceeding drought prevailing in this section of the country 

 during July, August, and September, 1910, been adequate to supply 

 the normal demand, and this without an increase in price beyond 9 

 cents per quart. 



MILK-INSPECTION SERVICE. 



Mr. W. A. Simpson, in his remarks before the committee, criti- 

 cized the health department for the method employed by one of its 

 inspectors in using a long glass tube in withdrawing, by suction with 

 his mouth from tanks or bottles, milk for purposes of examination, 

 and contended that such method was not germ proof. The depart- 

 ment, in response to this complaint presented in correspondence un- 

 der date of May 12, 1910, explained that the method stated is used 

 only when special circumstances call for it, and that as a general rule 

 atmospheric pressure is relied upon to fill the tube and gravity to 

 empty it. The department questioned the contamination, by the 

 method complained of, of milk collected by a reasonably skillful 

 inspector. 



As an evidence of the tact and considerate treatment evinced by 

 inspectors of the health department, it may be stated that during 

 the fiscal year ending June 30, 1910, approximately 10 complaints 

 were filed against inspectors in the dairy-farm and milk- inspect ion 

 service, which latter service embraces 10 inspectors, showing an aver- 

 age of one complaint a year against each inspector, and even this re- 

 markably small number of complaints has proved, upon investigation, 

 to be based on insufficient grounds. 



Dr. Woodward recommends that provision be made for a more 

 general supervision, from a bacteriological standpoint, of the milk 

 supply of the District, by allowing from one to four minor assistants 

 in the bacteriological laboratory, together with necessary additional 

 equipment. There should, he asserts, be provision for an assistant 

 bacteriologist, with salary and prospects sufficient to command the 

 services of a generally trained bacteriologist. An initial salary of 



