324 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



excessive numbers in old, improperly cooled, dirty milk are to a great extent 

 responsible for the high death rate and infant mortality in cities. Prior to 

 the beginning of this work in 1893 the death rate of children under 5 years 

 in New York City was 96.2 in every 1,000, and in June, July, and August, when 

 exceptional care must be taken to properly cool the milk, the death rate was 

 136.4 for each 1,000. With the increased use and distribution of pasteurized 

 milk in 1906 the death rate fell to 55 per 1,000, and in June, July, and August 

 the death rate was 62.7 per 1,000. This means that thousands of lives were 

 saved. The milk supplied was from the same farms, the same kind of herds, 

 and was distributed in the same way, the only difference being that the bottles 

 were sterilized and the bacteria in the old, dirty, warm milk were killed by 

 the heat applied to pasteurize it, and it was then properly cooled. If the sug- 

 gestions offered by this department were carefully followed by milk producers 

 and dealers pasteurization of milk would not be necessary. These suggestions 

 are based upon fact and experience, and are offered in hope that they may 

 improve the quality of the milk you are selling. It takes but a little more time 

 each day to conduct your business in a decent manner, and you will find that 

 the extra labor has been well expended. If you find it profitable to sell milk 

 you will find it still more profitable to handle a clean, pure article. If you can 

 not take the time to conduct your business in a decent manner and inform 

 yourself as to its quality you have no right to be in the milk business. 

 Very respectfully, 



WALTER O. SCOTT, Inspector of Milk. 



OFFICE OF INSPECTOR OF MILK, 



Providence, R. I. 

 To mttJc producers: 



The department of milk inspection, with the cooperation of milk producers, 

 offers the inclosed suggestions, which if intelligently followed would improve 

 the sanitary conditions existing at the dairy farms from which our supply is 

 obtained and indirectly improve the quality of the milk offered for sale in 

 this city. 



The fact that dirty milk has been held by physicians to be one of the principal 

 causes of the high death rate and infant mortality makes it important that 

 only clean milk be sold. The general laws of this State and the pure-food law 

 of the United States prohibit the sale of milk containing foreign substances. 

 The courts have held that the sale of milk containing sediment viz, dirt, hairs, 

 putrid matter, and manure is a violation of the law. 



For the education of your employees it is important that the inclosed sugges- 

 tions be posted conspicuously in the stable or milk room. 



In the near future agents of this department will visit all dairy farms from 

 which milk is shipped to Providence, for the purpose of seeing that the sugges- 

 tions are being carried, out. Samples of milk shipped to this city by producers 

 will be examined to determine if the laws of this State are being complied with. 



I hope that the inclosed suggestions may be of assistance in enabling pro- 

 ducers to ship only clean milk. 

 Very respectfully, yours, 



WALTER O. SCOTT, Inspector of Milk. 



[To be posted in all dairies.] 



Department of milk inspection of the city of Providence offers the follow- 

 ing suggestions which should be carefully followed by farmers and dairymen 

 in the care of cows and handling of milk : 



THE BARNYARD. 



1. It should be well drained, clean, and dry and should be as much sheltered 

 as possible from the wind and cold. There should be no pools of stagnant 

 water or urine therein. 



2. Manure should not be allowed to collect in the barnyard and should not 

 be at any time in contact with the stable or milk house. 



