THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 129 



from deterioration, even when the receptacle is kept open for a 

 reasonable length of time. It should be observed, however, that 

 when diluted to the consistency of liquid milk, as commonly used on 

 the table, sweetened condensed milk is in certain respects nearly as 

 susceptible to contamination from various sources as raw or pas- 

 teurized milk, and when exposed to the air its use should conse- 

 quently, as a matter of security, be circumscribed with the same pre- 

 cautions as are recommended for the treatment of raw or pasteurized 

 milk. 



In the judgment of authorities consulted by the committee, con- 

 densed milk is not so susceptible to deterioration as raw milk, 

 especially if a considerable amount of sugar be added. Condensed 

 milk will, according to Dr. Melvin, keep much longer than raw or 

 pasteurized milk, even after being opened, and there is authority for 

 the statement that if sealed it should resist deterioration indefinitely. 

 Surg. Gen. Wyman of the Public Health and Marine-Hospital Serv- 

 ice specifies that condensed milk either deteriorates or at times 

 contains toxic substances, children having been made very ill from 

 using cans of a certain brand. Such brands as contain a high per- 

 centage of sugar ought, he observes, to keep much better than raw 

 milk, on account of the well-known preserving properties of sugar. 

 Mr. Scott, inspector of milk of Providence, R. I., offers the assurance 

 that condensed milk is undoubtedly not as susceptible to deterioration 

 as raw milk, " because if evaporated to the proper density, the 

 bacteria can not grow, as food can not be absorbed by them." 



EFFECT OF SANITARY RESTRICTIONS ON DEMAND FOR PREPARED MILKS. 



It has been suggested that insistence upon additional requirements 

 concerning milk, such as the tuberculin test, maintenance of low 

 temperatures, etc., would lead to the use of prepared milks and other 

 substitutes for raw or pasteurized milk. The committee has endeav- 

 ored to elicit information from as many sources as possible tend- 

 ing to prove or disprove this assertion. There has been an apparent 

 reluctance on the part of most of the health officers and experts 

 consulted by the committee to vouchsafe an opinion on this point, 

 and while approximately 30 per cent of those approached are strong 

 in the belief that the public will not be compelled to resort to such 

 preparations, one authority believes that there would be a tendency 

 in that direction, while another inclines to the assumption that such 

 substitutes would be very considerably used. 



The Bureau of Animal Industry ventures the assertion that, if the 

 requirements be gradually introduced, there would probably be no 

 influence on the market in this direction, but that sudden enforce- 

 ment might make it necessary for a limited time to use prepared 

 milks. The health officer of Atlanta, Ga., states that no such results 

 have transpired in that city, but that on the other hand bad milk 

 certainly leads to this expedient. The health officer of Lynchburg, 

 Va., takes an optimistic view of the situation, and refers to the fact 

 that judicious inspection in that city has resulted in an extremely 

 enlarged demand for fresh milk, the consumption being almost thrice 

 what it was some time ago. The health officer of Topeka, Kans., 

 observes that people naturally prefer the fresh article when they 

 can get it. 



82444 8, Doc, 863, 61-3 9 



