19O9 MILK COMMISSION. 83 



testing of cattle is not compulsory, although it is strongly urged. Pasteurization 

 is likewise not compulsory. One section reads "The Health Officer of the District 

 of Columbia or his duly appointed assistants, shall have the right to enter, without 

 previous notice, for the purpose of inspection, any dairy or dairy farm within the 

 said district/' No person is allowed to keep a dairy farm within the District, or 

 bring or send milk from outside States, without a permit from the Board of Health. 

 Such permit is granted only when the Health Officer, after examination, is satis- 

 fied that the milk can be delivered without danger to the public health. Such per- 

 mit may be refused or revoked whenever the milk supply from said dairy or dairy 

 farm is "exposed to infection by Asiatic cholera, anthrax, diphtheria, erysipelas, 

 scarlet fever, smallpox, splenic fever, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, typhus fever or 

 yellow fever so as to render its distribution dangerous to the public health/' The 

 quality standard is three per cent, butter fat and twelve per cent, total s'olids. 

 Strict regulations have been drawn up respecting water supply, drainage, ventila- 

 tion, air space, floor space and cleaning, and to secure isolation of cattle suffering 

 from contagious diseases. All conditions apply alike to dairies outside and inside 

 the district. 



The population of the District, chiefly located in Washington, is 329,000, about 

 the same as Toronto. The milk comes from 904 farms, located in five different 

 States. In his 1908 report, Dr. C. W. Woodward, Health Officer, states that 4,388 

 inspections were made during the year, and 72,246 cows were examined; of these, 

 220 were condemned as unfit, 181 on account of tuberculosis, and 46 on account 

 of diseases of the udder. In the District itself, 726 were tested with the consent 

 of the owners, and 56, or 7.7 per cent, reacted. Dr. Woodward remarks, "The 

 Health Department does not believe that the removal of tuberculosis from among 

 our dairy herds is going to result in the disappearance of all tuberculosis, or even 

 any considerable amount of tuberculosis, among human beings." But 

 he believes that if only one per cent., or eight lives, could be saved, and a corres- 

 pondingly large amount of sickness prevented, the absolute eradication of tubercu- 

 losis from dairy herds' would be worth while. 



Whatever the cause, there has been a distinct decrease in the infantile mor- 

 tality during the past ten years. In 1907 there were 2,019 more births than in 

 1898, and yet there were 124 less deaths -under one year and 299 less deaths under 

 five years. There were 108 less deaths under one year in 1907 than in 1906. An 

 analysis of location reveals the fact that the rate under one year in the "alleys" 

 was 296.55, as compared to 171.05 in the street. 



CALIFORNIA. 



y. 



California State law makes it unlawful for any person to interfere with the 

 duly authorized inspectors or agents of the State Dairy Bureau or of any city or 

 county Board of Health entering any place where milk or milk products are produced, 

 manufactured or prepared. The standard is three per cent, butter fat and 8.5 solids 

 not fat. The State boasts of having four certified milk farms, including Arden, 

 owned by the late E. H. Harriman. Dr. A. I?. Ward, author of books on milk, is 

 the director of the State Department of Bacteriology. Tbe State Board of Health 

 publishes 1 a fifteen-page bulletin each month on the health of the State. 



VERMONT. 



Vermont State has just passed a law providing for the inspection of dairies. 

 By the Bill which went into effect April, 1909, all persons selling milk must first 



