PUBLIC PROBLEMS IQr 
directly from the farm only a few miles distant from the consumer, 
is of poorer quality, so far as numbers of bacteria are concerned, 
than milk that has been brought long distances in a well iced milk 
car, though it may be 36 or even 48 hours old. As an actual fact, 
milk furnished small communities near the source of the supply is 
frequently of poorer quality and, on the whole, less reliable than 
that furnished the larger cities. 
III. PUBLIC PROBLEMS 
Although this subject primarily concerns the regulation of the 
milk-supply after it reaches the city, certain aspects of it are inti- 
mately associated with farm life. City authorities are every year 
extending their control more and more directly to the farm. The 
public is making certain demands regarding the milk-supply that 
must be acceded to by the milk producer. 
Freedom from Disease Germs.—This demand needs no argu- 
ment. To meet it the best plan within sight at present is to 
require that all milk be pasteurized before it is sold. If milk is 
not pasteurized it must be insisted that only healthy cows shall 
be used in the production of milk; that no milk shall be distributed 
for drinking purposes from cows having any kind of udder dis- 
ease; that no persons suffering from or recovering from a con- 
tagious disease, or having direct contact with others thus suffer- 
ing shall be employed in the dairy or handle the milk in any way; 
that the milk shall not be watered, and that in washing the milk- 
vessels no water shall be used that is in the slightest degree open 
to suspicion of sewage contamination. 
Milk Standards.—A legal standard set for the chemical com- 
position of market milk is nearly everywhere adopted and does not 
concern our immediate object. Recently it has also become quite 
common to set a standard as to the number of bacteria that will 
be allowed in milk offered for sale. The number allowed varies 
from a few thousand to a million per c.c., according to the dis- 
tance of the city from the dairies and according to the grade of 
