292 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLVI. No. 1186 



— The patriot-flame with quick contagion ran, 

 Hill lighted hill, and man electrified man; 

 Her heroes slain awhile Columbia mourn 'd, 

 And crown 'd with laurels Liberty return 'd. 



LORANDE Loss WoODRUFP 



OsBORN Zoological Laboratoet, 

 Yale University 



SCIENTIFIC BOOKS 



The Modern Milk Prohlem. By J. Scott 

 MacNutt, Lecturer on Public Health Serv- 

 ice, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 

 Macmillan Co., New York. 253 pages. 

 Price $2.00 



It would seem as if little that is new and 

 interesting could be added to the multitu- 

 dinous papers, circulars and books on milk 

 that have appeared in recent years. The 

 present book is a distinct acquisition, how- 

 ever, to the literature on the subject. It is 

 written in a clear style, and presented in such 

 a way as to command the reader's attention 

 throughout. While the various important 

 phases of milk production are dealt with at 

 some length, with due emphasis on the neces- 

 sity of producing clean and safe milk, its 

 most distinctive feature is its illuminating 

 treatment of the economic factors which enter 

 into the present-day milk problem. 



Like Rosenau, the author believes that the 

 producer is the victim of unfortunate circum- 

 stances, that he is little understood, and that 

 as a rule he does not receive sufficient com- 

 pensation for the capital which he has in- 

 vested, the risks which he assumes, and the 

 efforts and long hours which he devotes to 

 his work. On the other hand, milk is milk 

 to the consumer, and he will, with some ex- 

 ceptions of course, not protect himself against 

 possible infection, but relies upon health au- 

 thorities and medical or civic organizations 

 to stand vigil for him. 



One of the chief obstacles to a satisfactory 

 solution of the milk problem is the lack of 

 understanding and cooperation between the 

 producer and those who are entrusted with the 

 enactment and the enforcement of rules and 

 regulations to protect the public. The State 



Agricultural Experiment Station is to-day 

 doing much to instruct the farmer in the ways 

 of econonjic milk production, a duty which 

 no other agency can better perform. 



Good and pure milk is a necessity. Aside 

 from an inconsiderable amount of certified 

 milk, milk is either good or bad, according 

 to the author. So long as the ordinary pro- 

 ducer stays within the minimum requirements 

 of the law he has no incentive to increase 

 the quality of his products. A premium paid 

 on quality is one of the solutions of the good 

 milk problem. Few producers are paid for 

 the extra effort, and hence are content if 

 they remain unmolested by the prosecutor. 



The laboratory method of determining the 

 quality of milk is, in the author's judgment, 

 the most important, while inspection is of 

 little merit, aside from the instruction to the 

 producer in rational methods of clean milk 

 production. The dairy score card also is of 

 relatively little value, as it does not furnish 

 a true index of the real quality of milk. 

 Pasteurization, except for the highest grade, 

 is necessary to protect the consumer. Grad- 

 ing and the laboratory examination are the 

 most important single means of sanitary con- 

 trol, grading being the most important single 

 factor in economic adjustment. Pair milk 

 prices should be paid to both farmer and 

 dealer on the basis of quality. 



Several pages of well-chosen references are 

 given, and the last 68 pages of the book are 

 devoted to a comprehensive appendix in which 

 valuable technical and statistical information 

 is contained, as shown in the titles : Milk 

 Statistics in the United States, Grading Sys- 

 tems of the Commission on Milk Standards, 

 the North System, Costs and Prices, and 

 Local Experiences and Investigations. 



The book is designed to furnish informa- 

 tion, in the author's words — " not merely for 

 health officials and milk inspectors, but also 

 for dairymen and city milk dealers, agricul- 

 tural authorities, legislators charged with the 

 framing of milk laws, inquiring consumers 

 and members of organizations engaged in 

 efforts to secure better milk supplies, physi- 

 cians, and all others who are interested in the 



