102 THE COMMON SENSE OF THE MILK QUESTION 



producer or a milk vendor must be similarly 

 qualified. 



I know that I have visited hundreds of farms 

 where just such unsanitary conditions and careless- 

 ness in the handling of milk as described above were 

 observed, and if further testimony upon the point 

 should be necessary, I need only refer the reader to 

 the various reports upon the milk supply of American 

 cities issued by the Department of Agriculture, 

 which, despite official reticence and conservatism, 

 tell the same story of inadequate equipment and 

 gross ignorance and inefficiency. I shall not forget 

 one instance which came under my observation, 

 because the circumstances were such as to illustrate 

 in a very vivid manner the extent of popular igno- 

 rance of hygiene in relation to the production of milk. 

 Visiting a friend who had acquired a coimtry place 

 within seventy-five miles of New York City, I found 

 him exulting in the fact that now, owning his own 

 cows, he was sure of a supply of pure milk for his 

 baby. He was so proud of his new stable and the 

 three cows he had purchased that I was somewhat 

 anxious to inspect them. I discovered that the 

 tuberculin test had not been applied to the cows to 

 ascertain whether they were free from tuberculosis. 

 Later, at my suggestion, this was done and two of 

 the three cows were found to be affected. The 

 new stable of which my friend was so proud was 



