244 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



whole subject from the practical standpoint of recognizing the dependency 

 of the consumer upon the producer and the necessity of the distributor, for 

 it goes without saying that the individual consumer can not go to the indi- 

 vidual dairy for his personal requirements. Therefore, the milk problem 

 necessarily evolves itself into a commercial basis; for without the commercial 

 incentive the consumer can not receive any milk unless he produces it himself. 

 There can be no obligation compelling the existence of dairymen, their pro- 

 duction of milk at a cost not commensurate with their selling price, or the 

 distribution of it not contingent on a revenue basis. 



We have made a special study of the tuberculin test, its advantages and 

 disadvantages, in connection with the litigation which has been forced upon 

 us by the requirements of the town of Montclair, of New Jersey, which case 

 has been in litigation for some time, and in which we have endeavored to 

 procure the testimony of the most learned, unbiased experts upon all the 

 questions involved of bovine tuberculosis, tuberculin test, and the trans- 

 missibility of bovine tuberculosis to human beings ; all of these subjects having 

 been exhaustively examined and testified to in connection with that case. 

 Very truly, yours, 



BORDEN'S CONDENSED MILK Co., 

 F. J. TAYLOR, President. 



HEARINGS ON THE MILK SUBJECT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF CHAMBER OP 



COMMERCE. 



MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE: You have asked me to 

 appear before you and state my views as to the best methods of procuring a 

 safe and clean supply of milk for the District of Columbia. It must be con- 

 ceded by all fair-minded and self-respecting men that the District of Columbia 

 is entitled to and should have a good, fresh, pure, supply of milk at reasonable 

 prices. As to just what constitutes the required or ideal supply of milk seems 

 to be the subject for discussion to-day. After 40 years' experience in the 

 business myself, and aided by the experience of the very best medical thought 

 to-day, I feel safe in saying that the one and only safe milk for the people of 

 the District to use is pure, clean, cow's milk in its raw state. To adopt either 

 of the substitutes that are now before the commissioners, namely, the com- 

 pulsory tuberculin testing of cattle or compulsory pasteurization, would result 

 in an expensive and serious failure. If you will permit me I will give you a 

 short history of tuberculin and what it has done since discovered. About 1882 

 Prof. Koch discovered what he claimed to be a diagnostic for the tubercle 

 bacilli and published the same to the world. He was pounced upon by the 

 medical profession and the pathologists, not only in the Old World but in 

 America. So hard was he pressed for proof of his discovery that he asked the 

 medical world to suspend judgment and give him sufficient time to make further 

 research, and if possible substantiate what he said or back down from the 

 position he had taken. For several years (I do not know the exact time) the 

 matter was allowed to lay dormant and was not heard from again until about 

 1890, if I remember correctly, when Prof. Koch came before the medical world 

 like an honest man and declared to the medical profession that he " had made a 

 mistake in the assertions he had made before, and that his tuberculin was not a 

 reliable diagnostic." He steadfastly stood by that assertion (until his death 

 a few months ago), notwithstanding the pressure from the medical men in 

 both European countries and America. Prof. Bangs, of Copenhagen, has had 

 more to do with tuberculin than any other man that I know of, and after 

 using it for many years declared that tuberculin was "not a true diagnostic 

 and could not be relied upon at all times." About 18 years ago, as well 

 as I remember, the tuberculin testing of cattle was taken up in the United 

 States. Most of the New England States at different times have tried it, and 

 while there may be some laws on the statute books yet which require it, so 

 far as I can learn none of them enforce it. Pennsylvania was next to take 

 it up after the New England States, and after slaughtering many herds decided 

 it was not practical. Only a few years ago the great dairy State of New York 

 passed a law and made an effort to enforce it, but soon abandoned it. Since 

 that time many of the Western States have taken it up, but so far as I know 

 now there is not one State in the Union that enforces it, and it was only a 

 few weeks ago that the Supreme Court of the great dairy State of Iowa decided 

 that the law was unconstitutional. 



