166 THE COMMON SENSE OF THE MILK QUESTION 



It is very evident from such figures as the foregoing 

 that heat is not the sole cause of summer diarrhoea 

 among infants. Dr. Chapin suggests that the reason 

 for the tremendous increase in the number of deaths 

 from this cause in Greater New York in 1901 was the 

 presence of an unusual amount of dust and dirt, con- 

 taminating matter of all kinds, in all parts of the city, 

 owing to the fact that from one end of the city to the 

 other streets were torn up, and sewers constantly 

 being opened, in course of the construction of the sub- 

 way." The explanation seems to be a good one, but 

 whatever the reason may be, there is no disputing 

 the facts. It is likewise indisputable that diarrhoeal 

 diseases are much more common among bottle-fed 

 babies than among babies that are breast-fed, and 

 there have been numerous observations which war- 

 rant the assertion that such-vdiseases are largely due 

 to bacterial contamination of the milk upon which 

 they are fed. Science and good sense both proclaim 

 the undesirability of filth as a food for infants. 



With regard to the transmission of tuberculosis, 

 typhoid fever, scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles, sore 

 throat, and many other specific diseases of both 

 human and bovine origin, science has conclusively 

 shown that numerous perils attend the use of milk 

 that is drawn from diseased cows or brought into con- 

 tact with the germs of any disease, either human or 

 bovine in its origin, no matter whether the method 



