106 REPOET OF THE No. 55 



by Mr. Straus to avoid any suggestion of "pasteurizing dirt." In the second 

 place the milk is bottled and sealed before it is pasteurized. This is done to pre- 

 vent any possibility of contamination between the pasteurizing and bottling pro- 

 cess, and as far as the observation or reading of the Commission goes, this is one 

 of the few where such a precaution is taken. The milk is heated in the bottles 

 for twenty minutes at a temperature of 158 degrees F. As for the process known 

 as "continuous pasteurization," the Straus authorities not only do not adopt it, 

 but regard it as absolutely farcical. Proper pasteurization, however, they maintain, 

 kills all pathogenic germs without affecting either the nutritive or digestive qualities 

 of the food. 



DEFICIT ABOUT $100,000 ANNUALLY. 



But pasteurization and its subsequent prompt and complete cooling is not the 

 sole work of the laboratory. Before being bottled at all the milk which is in- 

 tended for infant feeding is modified in four different formulae prepared by med- 

 ical men who are experts in the treatment of infantile diseases. This modified 

 milk is put up in special three and six ounce bottles and sent out to the seven 

 depots located in the poorer sections of the city. Each depot is in charge of a 

 trained nurse and a doctor is available for consultation each day. Thus each in- 

 fant receives personal, individual attention in addition to pure, pasteurized milk. 

 Moreover, the milk is sold in the parks by the glass at a penny a glass and the 

 scores of thirsty men and nursing mothers who surround the booths attest the 

 fact that it is a very popular beverage. The milk is sold at eight cents a quart, 

 actually what it costs on the farm, and so the cost of the expensive pasteurization 

 plant, nurses, doctors and distribution machinery must be borne by someone. It 

 is borne by Nathan Straus and is said to cost upwards of $100,000 a year. 

 This is Mr. Straus' philanthropy. It is perhaps not fair to describe this deficit 

 as a "loss." Its returns are in the benefits conferred on humanity, in the lives it 

 saves to brighten homes where the struggle for daily bread leaves little time for joy. 



SAVING THE BABIES AND HOW IT IS DONE. 



During June, July and August in 1892, 6,612 children under five years of age, 

 died in New York. In 1893, the first year of the Straus depots, the number was 

 5,892. Ever since that time there has been a general decrease, with the excep- 

 tion of a year or two when there were slight increases. In fact the extent of the 

 decrease would seem to synchronize with the extent to which Straus and similar 

 agencies broadened out until 1909, in spite of increased population, the number 

 was only 4,104. Similarly in 1893 deaths under one constituted 25.30 per cent, 

 of the total, while in 1907 they were only 18.71 per cent, of the total. This is 

 a distinct achievement how has it been brought about? Partizans of pasteuri- 

 zation affirm that it is the direct result of pasteurization under the Straus system. 

 No one would desire for a moment to minimize the credit due a noble philanthrophy, 

 but if this is the cause, or a material contributory cause, how ranch credit is due 

 to the fact that the milk was clean and pure before it was pasteurized in accord 

 with the methods of the most approved science, how much to the influence of the 

 doctors and nurses, how much to the educational effect of the personal advice and 

 literature in all languages? Then, partizans of the Health Department attribute 

 it to the excellent system of inspection and supervision inaugurated by Dr. Dar- 

 lington and the general campaign of education carried on under the direction of 



