19O9 MILK COMMISSION. 133 



NEED OF CARE BY THE CONSUMER. 



But after the producer has done his part, the vendor his and the municipality 

 theirs, there still remains one scource of possible contamination. That is after the 

 milk reaches 1 the consumer. Carelessness in the home may undo carefulness at 

 every other stage. What happens after the milk reaches the individual might be 

 no particular business of the State, except that it is often due to ignorance of the 

 delicate nature of the food. The necessity for care is more especially true of the 

 city than the country. In the rural districts, milk is consumed as a rule a few hours 

 after being drawn, while in the city twelve to thirty-six hours elapse before it even 

 reaches the consumer. In the smaller cities and towns where milk is not delivered 

 in bottles, an open dish or pitcher is often left uncovered at the back door. Before 

 being taken into the house, it is almost certain to accumulate dust, if not more 

 serious contamination. Then it is often left standing in a warm kitchen, in a 

 refrigerator which does not refrigerate, or in some other place where it is stir- 

 rounded by fish ? vegetables or onions, the odors of none of which improve the 

 milk. All these things are due to a little thoughtlessness which a clearer under- 

 standing of the nature of the milk and its bacterial action would quickly obviate. 

 Especially where it constitutes the chief food of a little child, too much care cannot 

 be exercised in keeping the milk clean and cold. 



An apparatus for pasteurizing the milk is 1 now being used in some homes, while 

 other housewives resort to the old practice of heating the milk before using it. It 

 is admitted that boiling injures the nutritive qualities of milk, but there can be 

 little objection to heating immediately before using if the boiling point is not 

 reached. 



Only constant care on the part of producer, distributor and consumer will 

 result in a pure, wholesome milk supply. Any steps that may be taken to dissemin- 

 ate and illuminate this fundamental fact, either by teaching in the schools, dis- 

 tribution of literature or delivery of addresses, exhibitions or otherwise, must prove 

 eminently beneficial. 



THE QUESTION OF PRICE. 



One of the most frequent objections offered to any organized effort at reform 

 in connection with the milk supply is that it "will raise the price." We do not 

 believe a conscientious adoption of any of the suggestions herein made and we 

 have sought to be more suggestive than censorious would result in any material 

 increase to the consumer. We have found places in this Province where reforms 

 have been made, but where the consumer pays no more for his milk than in other 

 places where little attention has been paid to the matter. Moreover, milk is one 

 of the best and cheapest of foods. Providing always against the extortions of in- 

 jurious combines, the price may be left to the general laws of supply and demand. 

 It is important to note, however, that maintaining a sanitary standard in bakeshops 

 has not affected the price of bread nor driven bakers out of business; nor has the 

 inspection of factories raised the price of the articles manufactured or caused 

 manufacturers to retire. 



