42 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



Whereas pure milk is the most important food in the diet of these children: 

 Now therefore be it 



Resolved, That the problem of securing a clean, safe milk for babies and 

 young children is the most immediate and pressing problem confronting the 

 health authorities of this city ; and be it further 



Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that steps should be taken to 

 label milk so that mothers may know what milk is safe for their babies and 

 what milk they must avoid. 



Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that milk from tuberculin- 

 tested cows, produced and kept under conditions which satisfy the highest med- 

 ical and sanitary standards, is reasonably safe for babies, in a raw state. 



Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that milk from cows which 

 have been physically examined for tuberculosis and are kept on farms which 

 score at least 75 per cent by the health department methods is safe for babies 

 if pasteurized at a temperature not lower than 140 F. and for a time not less 

 than 20 minutes, provided such milk has a bacteriological count not higher than 

 100,000 per cubic centimeter, pasteurized, and not more than 10,000 per cubic 

 centimeter not pasteurized. 



Resolved, That it is the sense of this conference that all other milk is not 

 safe for babies; that it should be pasteurized as above described, and that it 

 should be recommended for cooking purposes only and not for drinking pur- 

 poses. 



Resolved, That this conference recommend to the New York health authori- 

 ties that an effort be made immediately to secure a quantity of milk of grades 

 I and II above described sufficient for the 500,000 infants and children under 5 

 years of age in New York City. 



The conference took the position squarely that certified milk was 

 only reasonably safe, and the sentiment of members was almost 

 unanimously favorable to pasteurization as defined by the Washing- 

 ton milk conference of 1907. 



An additional resolution was passed, the phraseology of which is 

 not at hand, providing that besides the committee of from 12 to 20 

 experts arranged for, a separate committee of 20 experts be ap- 

 pointed for the purpose of considering the various resolutions sub- 

 mitted to the conference. Dr. Magruder and Mr. Berliner have been 

 designated as members of this latter committee. The membership 

 of the first-named committee has not yet been announced. 



MILK REGULATION IN DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



It is interesting to review the history of local milk regulation, a 

 subject with which, in its general aspects, the District of Columbia 

 has been conspicuously identified in setting the pace for development 

 elsewhere throughout the country along the lines of sanitary milk 

 production and distribution. 



As early as August 1, 1863, an ordinance was enacted by the board 

 of aldermen and board of common council of the city of Washing- 

 ton, providing against insanitary conditions in and about cow yards, 

 pens, and stables in the District of Columbia, a similar ordinance 

 being enacted by the board of aldermen and board of common coun- 

 cil of the corporation of Georgetown on April 22, 1865. Pursuant 

 to a provision of the act to establish a government for the District 

 of Columbia, approved February 21, 1867, a board of health was 

 created, and on May 15 of the same year this newly appointed board 

 adopted an ordinance prohibiting the sale of unwholesome, watered, 

 or adulterated milk, and of butter and cheese made therefrom. As 

 far back as October, 1873, the food inspectors in the service of the 

 board of health seem to have realized the importance of the inspection 



