703 
possible to readjust the work of the department generally so as to 
accomplish the desired end. For reasons of expediency, therefore, 
the supervision of the inspection of daily farms has been intrusted 
to the chief clerk, and the supervision of the inspection of dairies to 
the chief inspector. The chief inspector, as an incident to his general 
supervision of foods throughout the District, is charged with the 
supervision of the work of the chemist. The inspector in charge of the 
contagious-disease service is required, in investigating such cases of 
typhoid fever, scarlet fever, and diphtheria as come to his notice, to 
ascertain whether they have possibly had their origin in the milk 
supply, and on the slightest suspicion to cooperate with the chief 
clerk and the chief inspector in ascertaining the exact facts of the 
case, and. under direction of the health officer, in taking such remedial 
action, if any. as may be found advisable. 
The chief clerk of the department devotes at least one day each 
week to the personal inspection of the dairy farms under his super- 
vision. and the chief inspector is in the field at least one day each 
week looking after the work of the general inspection service, which 
is under his immediate control and which includes the inspection of 
dairies. All papers relating to any given dairy or dairy farm, in- 
cluding the original report made by the dairy-farm inspectors and 
carbon copies of score cards and of notices served, and copies of 
letters received and letters sent, are filed in jackets in such manner 
with the papers relating to any one given dairy or dairy farm, and 
are kept together so as to facilitate ready reference. These records 
are open to the public, and persons desirous of knowing the standing 
of any daily or dairy farm are given every facility to examine them 
and are urged to do so. 
INSPECTION* OF DAIRY FARMS. 
The total number of farms now licensed to produce milk in this 
jurisdiction or to send milk into it from the adjacent States. Mary- 
land and Virginia, is 960. ^lilk is being shipped into the District 
from twenty farms in Pennsylvania and twenty in New York, with- 
out licenses, by virtue of the provision in the law which authorizes 
the shipment of milk immediately after the filing of an application 
and until. that application has been acted upon by the health officer. 
The funds available for the inspection of dairy farms have not been 
sufficient to permit the inspection of farms in Xew York and Penn- 
sylvania. and therefore action by the health officer has been indefi- 
nitely suspended. The applications that have been filed present, of 
course, prima facie cases of full compliance with the laws and regu- 
lations of the District and licenses might be lawfully issued. Ex- 
perience has demonstrated, however, that the evidence presented in 
an application is not always to be relied upon, and therefore, pending 
