SAVE THE BABIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12754, 25 September 1919, Page 9

SAVE THE BABIES.

The subject of pure milk for the jahies is being taken in hand in England. A lot of talk has been given to it by the women’s societies in New Zealand, ..-lit no real effort has been made to. alter conditions from fear of vested and municipal interests. In America they have given us a lead, and are already saving thousands of lives every year; to take only Wo cities— New York has reduced the mortality of babies under one year from 135 per 1000 to 100, and Cincinnati from 139 to 93 per 1000. And the reduction is still going on. The method briefly is:— Healthy cows, especially non-tuber-cnlous cows. It is estimated that in England 30,000 babies get tuberculosis from milk every year, and that 3000 die from itClean cows, clean milkers, clean sheds. At least 99 per cent of London milk contains manure, and this manure not only contains the tubercle germ in about 10 per cent of cases, but also the microbes which cause the deadly summer diarrhea. Of the milk supplied to London hospitals and Mothers 1 Welcomes 85 per cent contained over 200.000 bacteria per cubic centimetre (equal to sixteen drops), while in America, when their scheme was merely talked about, only 45 per cent of the samples were as bad as this. After the scheme came into operation the number was reduced to 1. per cent. Delivery in clean -sealed vessels, which are kept cold all the time. Tho milk lias no chance of picking up contamination on tho way, or otherwise deteriorating. Test the milk supplied to yon by looking at the bottom of a glass in which the milk has stood, covered, for an hour or two; if there is sediment it is probably manure; clean milk gives no sediment of any kind. Of course, clean milk will cost a little more; in America the extra cost is three farthings a quart—say £SO to £lO for each baby saved.