PURE MILK SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18021, 21 February 1922, Page 8

PURE MILK SUPPLY.

VITAL IMPORTANCE TO CITY,

BACTERIOLOGICAL" ASPECT.

ADDRESS BY DR. MILSOM. The city's milk supply was the subject of an address at the Auckland Rotary Club's weekly luncheon yesterday by Dr. E. H. B. Milsom. All members of tho medical profession, he said, felt there should bo some reform, of the city's milk supply. "We have a good supply of milk," observed Dr. Milsom, " but it is difficult to get it always pure. In America they have taken np this question thoroughly, and have appointed a permanent milk commission, their desire being that the people shall have an ample supply of pure milk." The legal standard of milk in this country, said Dr. Milsom, was that it should, be the clean, normal, and fresh secretion obtained by completely emptying the udder of the healthy cow, properly fed and kept, excluding that got seven days immediately following parturition. It should contain not less than 8£ per centum of milk solids other than milk fat, and 3$ per centum of milk fat, and no added water or any foreign substanco. This standard, said Dr. Milsom, took account solely of the qualitative food value of the milk. There was, however, no standard of "safe" niilk. Among the diseases known to- be borne by milk wore:—Gastro-enteritis, enterica, diphtheria, scarlet fever, and tuberculosis. These diseases were all conveyed by their

special bacteria, which managed to contaminate the milk. The gastro-enteritis germs, which caused diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, and poißoning were generally introduced into ihe milk by flies. This disease

was very prevalent in the summer months, more particularly among infants. In fact, it was mostly due to this cause that the infantile mortality rate in infants under one year was so high.

Relation to Infant Mortality, Between 20 per cent, and 25 per cent, of the total deaths in all civilised coun-

tries were of infants under one year. On an average it might, be said that out of every thousand children born, two hundred died in the first year of life, In the last 10 years over two million babies less than one year old died in the United States of America. Dr. Milsora said the estimates of different authorities showed that from 50 per cent, to 75 per cent, of these deaths could be prevented. In Britain 75 per cent, of the infant deaths were of babies under one year, fed on cow's milk,, the most frequent cause of death in all cases being gastro-enteritis. This great infantile mortality was due to a variety and combination of causes, but bad milk was by far the chief factor. Enterica, diphtheria, and scarlet fever were spread by milk, generally when there was soma infected person associated with the production or distribution of the milk. The most devastating disease borne by milk was tuberculosis, which has as its main causative factor a bacillus that was easily detected and recognised by a bacteriologist. It had been shown by competent authorities to be present in 20 per cent, of the milk samples taken in Britain, and in 10 per cent, of the butter. Dr. Milsom said ho was not aware of any Now Zealand statistics, but it had been found in milk supplied to people in this city, and he was equally sure it was to be found in the milk supplies of each of the other cities. Dliease Among Cattle. Tuberculosis was a vory prevalent disease among cattle. It was; found in cattle at the abattoirs, and not seldom in an animal that looked fat and robust. It was no wonder that tubercle bacilli had,

been detected in the ordinary milk supply, for the milk was pooled ot the dairies, and one tubercular cow among a herd would infect all the milk. New Zealand butter was not likely to be infected in the same way. but British butter was, for the reason that the local product was made from the separated cream. Tubercle bacilli were heavier than the cream, and in the process of separation would be thrown out into the ssparated milk. Unboiled separated milk Was frequently used for pig food, and this possibly accounted for the prevalence of tuberculosk among pigs. Referring to the question of infection being carried to human being 3 through milk, Dr. Milsom said it was somewhat difficult to do more than express a firm belief. He bad come across two suggestive cases, one particularly so. One was a man whose occupation was that of cleaning cans at a milk factory, and his trouble was a lupus on the back of the right hand, a very unusual place for a lupus to appear. His story was that it developed from a slight cut. The other was a case of a lupus of the face which devtetoped from a slight wound, Thfe man was also a dairyman. Both were robust, strong-looking men, in whom it was surprising to discover tuberculosis of the skin.

Need for Scrupulous Cleanliness. While there was little doubt that tuberculosis could be conveyed from one human being to another by coughing— and this had been proved experimentally by a phthisical, patient coughing at guinea pigs and causing them to become tubercular, the fact that it could be convoyed by milk could not bo gainsaid. Milk wag such a favourable medium for the growth of bacteria, that scrupulous cleanliness should he observed 'in the milking sheds and dairy. The cows should be free from disease and have clean udders and teats. The milk should immediately be pooled and be kept cool Cold would delay the growth of bacteria. Preservatives were sometimes added to milk. Thoy prevented the growth of bactoria and kept the milk more or less sweet, but they were objectionable from a health point of view. Condensed and dried milks were by their method of preparation automatically free from _ bacteria, and were very valuable, - and if used with ordinary precautions, safe foods.

Dr. Milsom said he desired to sound a warning. There was, he said, a very great need of bacteriological standards and examination of the milk supply of the city. In tba course of routine examination of youths for various services he had been struck by the fact that youths with enlarged glands and a slight temperature at the time of examination generally break down two or three years later with tuberculosis in the lungs. It would therefore be readily, admitted that there was a serious need of further safeguarding the quality ,of the city's milk supply. \ " We go to great pains to have our water supply free from disease germs, and why not our milk ?" concluded Dr. Milsom.