4 THE MILK QUESTION 



Complexity of the milk problem 



There is probably no single problem in the whole realm 

 of modern sanitation and hygiene that is so complex, so 

 involved, so intricate, and so harassing. The difficulties 

 sometimes appear impossible to overcome; the dangers too 

 subtle to guard against. There are those, whose judgment 

 is worthy of consideration, who, after giving the milk ques- 

 tion serious study, have come to the conclusion that it is 

 unsolvable. The reasons for this are manifold. The milk 

 problem rubs elbows with almost every phase of human 

 activity. It has its health side, economic side, legal side, 

 scientific side, sociologic side, legislative side, administrat- 

 ive side: it is a many-sided figure. The milk problem starts 

 with the cradle and ends with the grave. Sometimes it 

 leads to an untimely grave. 



The milk question is solvable, and may be satisfactorily 

 adjusted to meet all concerned. It shall be my privilege to 

 present, later on, what I regard as the solution of this 

 perplexing problem. 



As an illustration to show how deep-rooted and how 

 important the milk question has become, I need only call 

 attention to the fact that it has invaded politics. In a 

 number of cities and states the milk situation has become 

 one of the leading political issues. To my thinking this is a 

 favorable sign of the times, for, when health and social 

 issues supplement the issues raised by war, or the per- 

 sonal and partisan issues which disgrace some of our 

 campaigns, it shows that the refining influences of civiliza- 

 tion are controlling the brute forces of passion. Instead of 

 devising bigger and bigger guns to destroy, instead of 

 training men to kill, the forces of society are now turning 

 to the more ennobling uses of peace and the conservation 

 of the greatest asset of a nation — health. 



The introduction of the milk question into politics is not 

 an unmixed evil. The sanitarian has long fought against 



