THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 123 



milk) the death rate was 136.4 for each 1,000. With the increased 

 use and distribution of pasteurized milk the death rate in New York 

 City had already in 1906 dropped to 55 per 1,000, and for the months 

 of June, July, and August of that year averaged 62.7 per 1,000. The 

 milk supply was from the same farms and the same kinds of herds 

 as before, and distributed in the same way, the only difference being 

 that the bottles were sterilized and the bacteria in the old, dirty, 

 warm milk had been killed by the heat applied to pasteurize it, this 

 being followed by proper cooling. The extent of the work of the 

 NQW York agency may be appreciated when it is stated that in the 

 year 1906 17 of these Straus stations dispensed 3,142,252 bottles and 

 1,078,405 glasses of pasteurized milk. 



The milk of the Straus pasteurizing laboratories is prepared in 

 accordance with formulae recommended by the foremost specialists in 

 the treatment of children's diseases, Formula No. 1, prescribed by 

 Dr. Arthur E. Green, containing milk, cane sugar, salt, and oat 

 water; Formula No. 2, by Dr. Rowland G. Freeman, containing milk, 

 limewater, milk sugar, and filtered water; Formula No. 3, by Dr. A. 

 Jacobi, comprising milk, barley water, cane sugar, and table salt; 

 Formula No. 4, by Dr. Freeman, consisting of skimmed milk, milk 

 sugar, limewater, and filtered water; and Formula No. 5, by Dr. 

 Green, including cream, milk, limewater, milk sugar, and filtered 

 water. The several formula? are prescribed in sequence for infants 

 at successive stages of their development, from date of birth to time 

 of weaning or later. Barley water, prepared in accordance with a 

 specific formula, is also separately supplied by these laboratories. A 

 more detailed statement of the formula? employed by the Straus 

 local infants' milk depot is submitted herewith (Appendix AP). 



The committee has inspected the Washington Straus depot and is 

 impressed with its importance in conserving the life and health of 

 infants who, for one reason or another, are obliged to be fed other 

 than at the mother's breast. While it is not deemed wise to en- 

 courage the artificial feeding of babies, the necessity for the main- 

 tenance of this establishment or some similar agencies must be con- 

 ceded. In other communities depots of this character have been in- 

 stituted at the initial expense of Mr. Straus and other philanthropists, 

 and later taken over and maintained at public or private expense 

 under the supervision generally of municipal health officials or medi- 

 cal milk commissions. It is understood that, having demonstrated 

 locally the great usefulness of this enterprise, its promoter will, unless 

 its maintenance be assumed by our municipality or by private sub- 

 scription, close its doors and deprive the citizens of Washington, 

 rich and poor alike, of this splendid instrumentality for reducing 

 the death rate of infants in this community. 



The committee adverts to the fact that apparent indifference has 

 been manifested on the part of Washington physicians generally, 

 toward utilizing the facilities afforded by the Straus Laboratory for 

 supplying modified milk for infant feeding. It is hoped that this 

 seeming apathy toward the use of modified milk prepared under 

 scientific, skillful direction, will be superseded gradually by active, 

 earnest cooperation on the part of the medical fraternity in sup- 

 porting this worthy foundation, or similar establishments operating 

 on a commercial basis, which latter, it is understood, are prepared to 

 render efficient service to the public in this direction. 



