370 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 



looked after. The number of inspectors required to supervise properly the 

 pasteurization of milk would depend upon the number of pasteurizing plants 

 established. Three would probably be a fair estimate for such work. The 

 more important part of the supervision of the pasteurizing plant, it might 

 almost be said, would rest with the inspectors charged with the bacteriological 

 supervision of the milk supply. Generally speaking, therefore, it might be said 

 that if a fixed bacterial standard be established, the tuberculin test required, 

 and compulsory pasteurization insisted upon from six to ten additional in- 

 spectors would be needed properly to supervise the work. 



7. What number of dealers are at present purveying milk in the District 

 of Columbia? 



Answer. The health department has no record of the numerous grocers and 

 other keepers of stores other than dairies who are purveying milk. It is estimated, 

 however, that milk is sold at 2,000 places within the District of Columbia. 



8. What number of producers are at present furnishing the milk consumed 

 in the District of Columbia? 



Answer. The number of licensed dairy farms at present is 1,142. 



9. Will you kindly furnish, if possible, a statement of the prices paid to the 

 dairy farmer and by the consumer for milk during the past several years? 



Answer. The price paid to the dairy farmer during the past five years has 

 been practically unchanged at from 14 to 16 cents for the summer months and 

 20 to 22 for winter months. The consumer has paid in that time 32 cents in 

 the summer time and 36 to 40 cents in the winter. These prices are per gallon. 

 So-called " special " milk is being sold at 40 cents per gallon throughout the year. 



10. What individuals or companies now maintain plants for pasteurizing milk 

 consumed in the District of Columbia? 



Answer. George M. Oyster, jr., J. J. Bowles, W. A. Simpson, Belmont Dairy 

 Co., J. W. Gregg (no holding device), Nathan Straus Laboratory, all in Wash- 

 ington, D. C. ; Baltimore & Washington White Cross Milk Co., Frederick, Md. ; 

 Tri-State Sanitary Milk Co., Cumberland, Md. ; International Milk Products 

 Co., Cooperstown, N. Y., and the following creameries which ship only cream, 

 so far as is known to this department: Chapin-Sacks Manufacturing Co., 

 Buckeystown, Md., and Woodstock, Va. ; Rosemary Creamery Co., Adams, N. Y. 



11. Does any present requirement of the health department forbid the use 

 of milk bottles or other receptacles for holding coffee, tea, paint, coal oil, 

 molasses, vinegar, gasoline, etc.? 



Answer. Section 6a of an ordinance to prevent the sale of unwholesome food 

 and the distribution of medicinal and poisonous substances in the District of 

 Columbia provides as follows: 



" Sec. 6a. That any person in the District of Columbia who receives milk 

 or cream for sale shall, immediately after emptying the receptacle in which 

 such milk or cream has been received, thoroughly rinse such receptacle so as 

 to free the same from all remnants of milk and of cream, or shall cause such 

 receptacle to be so rinsed; and no person in said District shall put or, having 

 power and authority to prevent, permit to be put into any receptacle which is 

 commonly used for the storage or delivery of milk or cream for sale anything 

 which is filthy or offensive or any refuse matter of any kind. Any person 

 violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be pun- 

 ished by a fine not exceeding $25 for each and every such offense." (Commis- 

 sioners' Regulation of Apr. 21, 1903.) 



The health department has prosecuted persons who have failed to rinse 

 the receptacles in which milk or cream has been received, such prosecutions 

 being against, as the regulation quoted above will indicate, persons who have 

 received milk or cream for sale. Cases in which householders have used the 

 receptacles in which milk or cream has come into their possession for pur- 

 poses suggested by the question propounded by the committee have not been 

 prosecuted by the health department, for the simple reason that the health 

 department does not obtain knowledge of such offenses, and the milk dealers 

 who do obtain knowledge of such offenses have never appeared to enter com- 

 plaint against their customers. 



12. What is the temperature maintained in household refrigerators in the Dis- 

 trict of Columbia? 



Answer. The health department is unable to answer this question. 



13. In what respect, if any, is the drinking of sour milk deleterious? 

 Answer. The drinking of sour milk is ordinarily not injurious to health. 



The milk that seems to do harm is not milk that is actually and manifestly 

 soured, but milk that is more or less advanced in the process of souring. 

 Whether this is due to the fact that up to a certain point disease-producing 



