THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 341 



In the home, as on the farm and in the city dairy, cleanliness and cold are 

 the two essentials in the securing of wholesome milk. 



All vessels used for milk should be thoroughly cleansed as soon as empty, 

 using first clean cold water for rinsing, and then scalding them with hot water 

 containing a small amount of washing soda or borax. Do not use soap for this 

 purpose. After thorough washing, the vessels should be rinsed with clean 

 water and then well aired and sunned, in some place where they will be pro- 

 tected from dust. 



If your milkman delivers his milk in sealed bottles, see that he does not 

 leave these in a place where they will be exposed to the heat of the sun before 

 being brought into the house. They should be taken in as soon as possible 

 and stood at once in the refrigerator until used. As soon as you have emptied 

 a bottle, wash it out carefully. Do not return to your milkman bottles con- 

 taining stale milk. 



If you are getting bottled milk and if a case of typhoid fever or other 

 " catching " disease breaks out in your house, you should tell your milkman 

 at once, and he should not take away any milk bottles from your house until 

 after the case has gotten well, as one of these bottles might otherwise be the 

 means of carrying the disease to other houses. We will instruct the milkmen 

 what to do in such cases. 



If >our milkman does not deliver his milk in bottles it is best to have him 

 deliver it directly to you or your servant, and you should see that it is put 

 on ice immediately and kept cold. 



The practice of putting out an uncovered pitcher or other vessel for milk 

 the night before can not be too strongly condemned. 



Such a pitcher or vessel, exposed to the dust and dirt of the street, will col- 

 lect thousands of germs before the milk is put into it. Many of these may be 

 dangerous to life and health, besides which they will certainly cause the milk 

 to sour in a short time and become unfit for use. The purest milk received in 

 such a vessel may become as bad in a few hours as the worst milk from a 

 dirty farm. 



If you are compelled to stand out a vessel to receive your milk, provide your- 

 self with several glass preserve jars, which should be used for this purpose 

 only. They should be kept well washed and aired as above described. Get 

 jars with clamp tops. Those with screw tops are hard to keep properly 

 cleansed. Do not use the rubber ring which comes with most jars, as it is 

 difficult to keep clean and the jar will be sufficiently tight without it. Instead 

 of a preserve jar a bowl, covered by a plate, may be used. A pitcher can not be 

 tightly covered on account of the projecting spout. 



Give your own personal attention to your milk vessels. 



The milkmen of Richmond state that many persons in this city have the 

 idea tha L if milk is delivered to them warm this is a proof of its being fresh 

 from the cow, and hence better. So far from this being true, only by cooling 

 the milk as soon as it is gotten from the cow is it possible to prevent rapid 

 decomposition of the milk in warm weather. The regulations of the health 

 department (which have been adopted for your benefit) require that all milk 

 sold in Richmond shall be cooled as soon as possible after milking. 



While bad milk is the chief cause of bowel troubles among young infants, it is 

 by no means the only cause. Improper feeding is another cause. Never give 

 anything but milk to a child under 1 year, unless advised to do so by your 

 family doctor. 



If your baby has any bowel trouble call in your doctor at once, so that the 

 case may be treated before it has gone too far. 



Never buy milk for the baby from a grocery store. Store milk has often 

 been kept over from the day before, and only too often without ice or in an 

 open pitcher in a refrigerator in which meats and vegetables are also kept. It 

 is dangerous as food for babies. 



By paying careful attention to the above instructions you will do much 

 toward keeping your family well during the summer (and especially the little 

 ones who live on milk). You will also find that your milk will keep longer 

 and taste better. 



Keep this circular and read it from time to time until thoroughly familiar 

 with its contents. If you change servants be sure to give instructions to the 

 new ones in the care of milk in your home. 



