FILTH AS infants' FOOD 115 



Cambridge and Brockton, both Massachusetts 

 cities, have adopted Boston's standard of 500,000 

 bacteria per cubic centimeter. But Milwaukee does 

 much better, with a standard of one-half that of 

 Boston, 250,000 per cubic centimeter. Now, I know 

 perfectly the arguments which will be adduced in 

 defence of these standards; that it will be shown 

 statistically and otherwise that good has resulted 

 from them, that there has at least been some improve- 

 ment. But, giving these claims the fullest possible 

 consideration, and allowing them all due weight, 

 I cannot resist the conclusion that thd harm done by^ 

 the adoption of bacteriological standards which do 

 not represent purity but filth, not safety but danger, 

 is far greater than the good ; that when a city adopts 

 such absurdly high bacteriological standards immense 

 harm is done by creating an impression in the minds 

 of the citizens that the goal of purity has been reached, 

 that the milk supply is safe and pure. For my part, 

 I would prefer no standard at all rather than a decep- 

 tive one such as Boston and the other cities named 

 have adopted. I speak from experience when I say 

 that the average Bostonian is a much more difficult 

 person to interest in the important subject of the 

 purity of the milk supply than the New Yorker, 

 simply because he has been lulled into a false sense 

 of security by that "clean milk" standard of 500,000 

 germs per cubic centimeter. 



