MILK SUPPLY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14759, 1 September 1913, Page 2

MILK SUPPLY.

I " • j- TO THE EDITOR OF "THE FRESS " Sir,—Will you allow mc a little epac< to refer to this important question! The Hospital Board and its chairmai ! appear to have come to tho eonclusioi ! that the present conditions under whicl I milk is supplied to the residents o: Christchurch are such as to render ii probable that there will be an increase of tuberculosis, especially amongst th< children, and the facts upon whicl this conclusion is arrived at are:— (l The finding of the report of the Roya Commission on Tubeiculosis that it* ii possible for human beings to contracl the disease from tuberculous cows, anc that tho largest part of the ruber culosis which man obtains l'rom hii food is by means of milk containing tuberculous matter. (2) The fact tha a large number of the cows from whicl; milk was supplied to the Hospital Hoard were condemned as tuberculous. While quite agreeing as to the propriety of taking reasonable precaution: for ensuring a wholesome milk supply, 1 do not think that anyone who considers the matter carefully can say that there exists any cause for alarm on account of an increase of tuberculosis bj means of the Christchurch milk supply. It is quite easy for the chairman oi the Board to create sensations by collecting extracts from the writings of specialists on the subject, and it is quito possible that what they say may be applicable in their own particular districts, but 1 doubt whether Dr. Stiles or any other expert would say that tho conditions which govern the Christchurch milk supply are such as should necessitate drastic alterations. This' is the inference which we are apparently asked to draw from the chairman's remarks, f although he does not himself offer any suggestion as to tho methods by which any improvements aro to be effected. If there is any uncertainty as to whether tho Christchurch children are being exposed to danger., it,. would surely be possible for the Hospital Board to obtain reports from its medical officers, and also to ascertain from its own records whether any case of tuberculosis (infantile or otherwise) can be traced to the milk supply. When those facts are ascertained it will be time enough to initiate <-. movement in tho direction of providing, through tho City Council, for milk from healthy cows milked under sanitary conditions, and delivered and distributed in vessels which prevent contamination by disease I germs of any kind. I Alarms such as to ensure healthy - conditions in connection with food supply are quite as necessary in connection with tho spread of disease by tho ordinary house fly, and by the handling of articles of food by persons actually affected with tuberculosis, as they are -with regard to tho milk supply. * So far as the country is concerned, whero each person is his own milk supplier, it hardly seems practicable to have an inspection, and if the country resident has not got ideas as to cleanliness which result in his family getting wholesome milk, this can hardly be effected' by legislation or Stato inspection. The poor country people appear to incur risks with regard to meat as well as milk, and yet no politician or public man is bold enough to assert that all food supplied by the country people ehould bo inspected. So far as milk supply is concerned, I do not believe that" if tho matter is properly ventilated thero would be any difficulty in some Christchurch people with sufficient energy, enterprise, and 'public spirit to undertake to furnish a supply of milk which is not only pure and wholesome.- but is supplied under methods which are economical and efficient. , If tho eminent city councillor, who hails from Denmark, and must be familiar with the methods underwhich the Copenhagen milk supply is arranged, were to take the matter un. I am suro ho would have no great difficulty in getting persons in Christchurcb to support a similar scheme.' —Yours. Ct °'' HYGIEMST.