SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
r 
793 
DISCUSSION OF DR. JOHNSTON’S PAPER. 
Dr. Stewart: This is a subject in which we are all inter¬ 
ested. It is a most excellent paper, and leads the way to intelli¬ 
gent thought upon the subject. The paper cites several eastern 
cities having milk inspection, but no western city is cited. 
Kansas City has regulations governing milk and meat inspec¬ 
tion. It has a meat inspector whose greatest interest is in 
standing in with the mayor. Getting positions through political 
influence has a bad influence towards degrading the inspection. 
Some large dairies near Kansas City have boasted that they 
could afford to pay large fines, but that it was better not to 
allow it to go too far, for fear of public opinion. Statistics in 
eastern cities indicate a great decrease of mortality through a 
proficient meat and milk inspection. Meadville, Pa., has proba¬ 
bly the best system of inspection of any in the country, and 
Pittsburgh comes next in line. The inspection in those cities 
is in complete control of veterinarians. These gentlemen pre¬ 
pare papers at intervals giving legislation enacted covering the 
subject, also going into the detail and character of the work. 
St. Ivouis has a system of milk inspection, and there the power 
behind the throne is the brewer, who furnishes to dairies around 
St. Louis grains and other offal for feeding purposes. The 
brewers have a strong political power, and in conversation with 
the inspector I was informed that he found it convenient not to 
press his inspection too far. This is a serious question, and 
other cities would do well to emulate Meadville and Pittsburgh. 
I would like to call attention to one family being affected with 
tuberculosis from using the milk of an affected cow. It is the 
family of Harper Bros. One child showed symptoms of menin¬ 
gitis, and the neighboring family had a child develop it in 
another form. Both got milk from same source. All other 
surroundings were good, and everything pointed to the cow as 
the source of infection. Our veterinary literature is full of such 
cases, and no veterinarian will doubt the efficacy of milk in¬ 
spection. A pure water supply is a feature that is often over¬ 
looked ; it ought to be of the best, for washing the utensils and 
supplying drink to the animals. 
Dr. Peters: I came here to listen and not to discuss. I 
wish to compliment Dr. Johnston on his paper. I feel well 
paid in coming the many miles from Nebraska that I have. 
Many points of interest were brought out in the paper, and one 
of the most important is the water supply. From a bacterio¬ 
logical standpoint a great deal of damage can be done by an im- 
