THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 37 



tamination of the latter with bacteria) removed to a safe distance 

 from cow barns and milk houses, but points to the advisability of the 

 exercise of extreme care and caution on the part of the householder 

 to keep the home free from flies, and especially on the part of handlers 

 of milk to be watchful that flies be not permitted to drop into the 

 milk at any stage of its transport from the barn to the table. It is im- 

 portant that barns and milk houses be screened from flies, and that 

 greater diligence be exercised in keeping these dangerous, though 

 heretofore generally regarded as harmless, insects away from milk 

 and milking utensils. Great credit is due in this connection to Dr. 

 George M. Kober, of this city, whose laborious investigation in 1895 

 developed for the first time a recognition of the potency of flies in the 

 communication of typhoid fever and other diseases, and whose com- 

 prehensive task in collating data regarding epidemic diseases result- 

 ing from contaminated milk and other causes is elsewhere referred to 

 in this report. 



IV. HISTORY OF FEDERAL AND LOCAL REGULATION OF MILK SUPPLY. 



FEDERAL SURVEILLANCE OF MILK PRODUCTION. 



Prior to the establishment of the Dairy Division of the Bureau of 

 Animal Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, on July 

 1, 1895, very little attention had been bestowed by the Federal Gov- 

 ernment upon the subject of milk production, but at this juncture 

 actual steps in promoting the sanitary production and distribution 

 of milk were taken ; and in 1900 a paper entitled " Market Milk : A 

 Plan for Its Improvement," was issued in order to meet the frequent 

 requests received by the Bureau of Animal Industry for advice re- 

 garding the improvement of the milk supply of cities and towns. 

 This plan comprised, in brief, recommendations for the organization 

 in each community of an unofficial milk commission to inspect dairies 

 and methods of producing and handling milk, and to prescribe re- 

 quirements therefor. In recent years the bureau has worked in vari- 

 ous ways to bring about improvement in the wholesomeness of the 

 milk supply of various communities. It has made scientific investi- 

 gations regarding tuberculosis, pasteurization, and other subjects; has 

 studied practical methods of dairying, with a view to helping dairy- 

 men to improve their methods, for the benefit of both producer and 

 consumer ; has cooperated with numerous cities and towns in the mat- 

 ter of their milk supply, and has studied their methods of producing, 

 transporting, handling, and delivering milk; has promoted competi- 

 tive exhibitions of milk and cream and encouraged the production 

 of wholesome products; has furnished tuberculin to public-health 

 officers, and has applied the test to a large number of cows ; has given 

 numerous lectures and addresses at public meetings; and has pre- 

 pared and distributed a large quantity of literature relating to the 

 various phases of the milk question. 



No attempt has thus far been made by the Federal Government, 

 in pursuance of authority vested by the Federal Constitution for the 

 regulation of interstate commerce, to prescribe the application of 

 the tuberculin test, pasteurization, a maximum bacterial content, a 

 fixed maximum temperature, or analogous restrictions to govern milk 

 produced in one State and transported into another, the jurisdiction 

 of the Federal Government being exercised in this regard only so far 



