14 EEPOET OF THE No. 55 



This reveals a condition of affairs probably unparalleled in any city on the 

 continent and certainly, as subsequent figures show, unparalleled in any city in 

 Ontario. Various explanations are offered. One is that the poorer cows of the 

 Province,, cast off subsequent to an unprofitable season, are picked up cheaply on 

 the Toronto market. Another is, that there are many cows in this district of types 

 which are noted for producing large quantities rather than milk rich in food values. 

 Another is, that the dealers get the city to test samples suspected of being low, in 

 order to follow them up, and that therefore the percentage does not represent a fair 

 ratio of the whole supply. Any or all of these explanations may account for some 

 proportion, but it is hardly credible that all combined could explain such a large 

 percentage. A herd may at times give milk below three per cent., but this is rare, 

 and to say that forty per cent, of the milk of this district is below three per cent, 

 when it is drawn is a libel on the cow. The serious conclusion cannot be evaded 

 that there is somewhere adulteration, by the addition of water or the extraction 

 of cream, to an alarming degree. 



To meet this condition, Dr. Sheard said: "In my opinion the two chief re- 

 quirements in connection with the milk conditions of this Province are, first, to 

 clearly define what good milk is presumed to be, and when the same is adulterated, 

 and to make it an offence against law to sell such adulterated milk. In this respect 

 I think the code of New York covers the point admirably. In addition 

 I think the Health Officer should have the right to go into outside municipalities 

 from which milk is being delivered into the municipality over whch he has super- 

 vision to inspect all dairies, dairy premises and dairy cattle, and if anything un- 

 sanitary is found thereon, or any diseased cattle, or any contagious disease is 1 found 

 to exist amongst the employees and milkers, he should have the right to prevent 

 such milk from coming into the municipality over which he has jurisdiction, and 

 if the milk be sent in, to seize and carry away the same, and have such shipper 

 punished by a fine. Furthermore, all shippers and transporters of milk, whether 

 by team or car, should provide such receptacles, properly equipped with ice or 

 otherwise as will maintain the milk during transit at a temperature below 50 de- 

 grees F." 



INADEQUATE COOLING IN SUMMER TRANSPORTATION. 



In company with Dr. Sheard, your Commission spent considerable time visit- 

 ing various milk distributing plants and retail stores in the city, noting the method 

 of handling the milk and the equipment. Milk drawn from the cow the same morn- 

 ing and the night previous arrives at the city plants usually between ten o'clock 

 and noon. It is, of course, in the extreme summer weather when the greatest diffi- 

 culty is experienced in handling. Shaken up in the cans' on railroad and wagon 

 road, the milk arrives in the city at a temperature of from 60 to 70 degrees F., 

 which constitutes an excellent medium for the development of bacteria. Some of 

 the milk tested by your Commission on an August day actually showed a temper- 

 ature of 72 to 74 degrees, while very few went below 60. With the exception of 

 a cover which is usually over the wagon, no attempt is made to keep the milk cool 

 during transportation. Arrived at the plant, it is immediately passed over the 

 pasteurizer and clarifier in the large establishments so equipped, and, in almost 

 all, over the cooler and into the bottles. The bottles are then placed in an ice vat 

 or a refrigerator until they are delivered the next morning. The milk therefore 

 reaches the consumer from 24 to 36 hours after it leaves the cow. 



