19O9 MILK COMMISSION. 33 



In June last, however, the City Council adopted the model by-law drawn up 

 by the Provincial Board of Health some time ago. This by-law calls for a high 

 standard of food value and sanitation. It provides for the following standards: 

 13 per cent: total solids, 3.75 butter fat, at least 1029 specific gravity, no more 

 than 300,000 bacteria per cc. It instructs the sanitary inspector to visit dairy 

 farms not less than once every two months and use the score card in making his 

 inspections. Copies of this by-law, printed on large cards, have been posted in the 

 dairy barns, but no progress has been made in enforcing it. The city is handicapped 

 by being situated in one of the poorest dairy districts in the Province, the land 

 being so valuable for fruit-raising purposes. 



Butter fat tests are made periodically and published in the local papers to- 

 gether with the names of the milk vendors. In the July test it was found that seven 

 out of twelve samples went below three per cent. When the next test was made, 

 however, in September, the average had been raised so markedly that only two 

 out of twenty-four touched three and the balance scored from 3.50 to 4.75. In 

 November there were four samples below three, two from the same place, and a 

 large number just above three. 



On the question of future legislation, Dr. King expressed the following views : 

 " Requiring efficient sanitary conditions to be observed on all farms and other pre- 

 mises furnishing milk for human consumption. The language of such legislation 

 should be clear and definite the cleanly keeping of the cows in suitable, well ven- 

 tilated and lighted stables with properly constructed stalls, floors, gutters, drains, 

 etc.; the cleanly handling of the milk by clean individuals using clean utensils; 

 efficient inspections of the farms, premises, cattle, stables, food, water, and utensils ; 

 all health officers to be subject to a Governmental Department and free from muni- 

 cipal influence and interference; the adoption of a reasonable official standard for 

 milk with necessary authority to destroy any milk falling below said standard when 

 intended for human consumption; authority for municipalities to establish or as- 

 sist municipal dairies; the licensing of milk vending to be placed in the hands of 

 the health authorities of the municipality wherein the milk is offered for sale. 



"I think an official standard is practical and desirable as regards butter fat, 

 specific gravity, acidity, adulteration by preservatives, temperature at time of sale 

 and bacterial count, viz., butter fat, not less than 3.75 specific gravity 1030, tem- 

 perature not above 60 degrees F. at time of sale, and not to contain more than 

 300,000 bacteria per cc., acidity not to exceed .02. 



"I think pasteurization is desirable under the present conditions of the milk 

 supply of the two evils it is probably the least. Improve the condition of the 

 milk to the standard reached by the city of Rochester, N. Y., and pasteurization 

 may not be necessary. 



"The tuberculin test has never, to my knowledge, been attempted in this neigh- 

 borhood. I do not think that tuberculosis is prevalent annong dairy cattle here. 

 "As to the best method to secure a clean raw milk supply at moderate cost, that 

 is a complex question. I think the best plan is to refer the subject to the members 

 of the Ontario Government Milk Commission." 



IN NORTHERN ONTARIO. 



Fort William, Port Arthur, and Sault Ste. Marie were the points visited in 

 Northern Ontario. In spite of the comparative sparseness* of the rural 

 population, we found dairying had made much progress 1 as well as farming in 

 general. Much interest was taken in the importance of a sanitary milk 



2 M. c. 



