THE MUNICIPAL REGULATION OF THE MILK SUPPLY OF THE 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.” 
By Wm. Creighton Woodward, M. D., LL. M., 
Health Officer of the District of Columbia. 
I. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MILK-INSPECTION SERVICE. 
Milk is a food. Legislation for the regulation of the milk supply 
is enacted with that fact in mind, and not infrequently legislation 
relating to the manufacture and sale of foods generally is applicable 
as a whole or in part to the production and sale of milk. For these 
reasons it has been deemed expedient in discussing the municipal 
regulation of the milk supply to refer rather oftener to the regula- 
tion of the general food supply than otherwise would have been 
necessary. It is interesting, too, to note how changes in our modes 
of living, or increasing knowledge with respect to the sanitary and 
mercantile relations of foodstuffs, have altered our practice with ref- 
erence to governmental supervision and control. The inspection of 
flour, of salted provisions, of tobacco, and of spirituous liquors, in the 
cities of Washington and Georgetown, in the District of Columbia, 
was early provided for, but the regulation of the sale of fresh meats 
and of milk is of comparatively recent origin. 
The first legislation relating to the sale of milk of which I have 
been able to find record was enacted by the board of aldermen and 
board of common council of the city of Washington on August 1 , 
1863 . The ordinance was entitled, “An act in relation to cows,” and 
seems to have been directed rather against the nuisance liable to arise 
from the keeping of cows than against any supposed effect which in- 
sanitary conditions in and about cow yards, pens, and stables might 
“For tlie information of readers not familiar with the administration of 
municipal affairs in the District of Columbia, a memorandum descriptive 
thereof is appended. (See page 789.) 
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