Annual Report of the Milk Commission, 1914 During the past year 12 visits were made to the Milk Farm at Novelty by the Commission's Veterinarian, Doctor Samuel Burrows. At these inspection visits, the cows, stables and milk house are examined and the technique practiced during milking and in the milk house observed. Ten additional inspection visits were made by the Assistant Secretary, Doctor Furrer, the appearance and state of health of the employees being noticed and the general appearance of the barns and milk house observed. These inspections made by representatives of your Commission at the above-mentioned intervals are supplemented on the part of the producer by daily examinations of all animals by the chief herdsman and his assistant. Weekly reports are received from the Superintendent in regard to the presence or absence of communicable diseases among the employees. We are glad to report no outbreak of such diseases during the year. Of the 20 semi-monthly bacterial examinations made during 1914 by the Commission's bacteriologist, Doctor Perkins, only two were above the 10,000 standard (August 28, 1914, 19,200; June 13, 1914, 45,000), the other 18 were under 5,000. Average of 20 counts, 6,098. Of these samples, 19 had a temperature under 48 degrees F., one 60 degrees (August 28, undoubtedly the cause of the high count of that sample on that day). The chemical examinations made by the Commission's chemist, Doctor Haskins, have always revealed a milk coming well within the chemical requirements of the Commission. The annual tuberculin test, made a few months ago, revealed three reactors out of 148 tested. All reactors were butchered and the barns cleaned and disinfected under the direction of Doctor Burrows. Our tuberculin testing is now sanctioned by the Ohio State Department of Agriculture, which supplies us with Government tuberculin. Copies of all tests made are forwarded to the State Veterinarian at Columbus. During the past month (November) three extra visits were made to the farm by our Veterinarian, all animals being ex amined for signs of foot and mouth disease. We are very glad to be able to report that no signs of the disease were found by Doctor Burrows. As a special precaution, all visitors, particularly cattle-men and farmers, are excluded from visiting the farm for an indefinite period. It is now a little over a year since the Milk Commission has undertaken the additional function of supervising the modifying laboratory of the Belle-Vernon-Mapes Dairy Company (see annual report, 1913). During that time the Assistant Secretary has made over 150 inspection visits to the laboratory for the Commission. The modified milk is made from six 10-gallon cans of "bulk certified" shipped daily, sealed, from the Certified farm at Novelty. From a record of hundreds of bacterial counts made direct from the can of "bulk certified" the interesting conclusion may be drawn that the Certified bacterial standard of 10,000 has been exceeded, but in a very few instances in a year, and furthermore, that even after the handling incident to the production of modified milk the standard has been maintained but with few exceptions. As a result of the supervision of the modified milk laboratory as outlined in our last annual report (1913), an almost daily bacterial count is now being made of Certified Milk, or the modified milk from which it is made, by the Belle-Vernon-Mapes Dairy Company bacteriologist, Mr. Bridgeman. From a total of 896 counts, 96.2 percent. were better than the standard required of the Milk Commission. Casein Milk By special agreement, the formula and method of making this product coincides as nearly as possible with the Casein milk made by the Babies' Dispensary. The Secretary and Assistant Secretary, delegated to represent the Cleveland Milk Commission at the annual meeting of Medical Milk Commissions, held at Rochester, N. Y., last June, report a very pleasant and profitable trip. Several model dairy farms were inspected. In conclusion, it gives us great pleasure to acknowledge once more the cordial relations existing between the Commission and our producer-The Belle-Vernon-Mapes Dairy Company. We believe that their efforts during the past year in producing modified milk practically conforming with all the exacting standards required of Certified Milk merits not only the warm approval of your Commission but deserves the appreciation of the entire medical profession. Respectfully submitted, J. J. THOMAS, Secretary-Treasurer. President McCleave: Dr. Marcellus, will you report for the Portland, Oregon, Commission? Dr. M. B. Marcellus, Portland, Oregon: The Portland Commission has recently been organized. President McCleave: Can you tell us just a little about your progress? We are interested to know that they have started a Commission there. Report of Portland, Oregon, Medical Milk Commission Dr. M. B. Marcellus: The Commission was provided for by an ordinance of the City Council, and consists of three resident physicians, presumably members of the City and County Medical Society, the City Health Officer, and the Chief Milk Dairy Inspector. The members of the Commission are appointed by the Mayor. We organized, and the President of the City and County Medical Society was elected President of the Commission. We visited two certified dairies that were certified to by the State Board of Health prior to the appointment of this Commission. We gave them a certificate, and I expect to have them make some more important changes than they have made in the past. Otherwise I do not believe there is anything further to report. President McCleave: We are very glad indeed to welcome you into the group of Milk Commissions; and we certainly wish for you a very successful career in Portland. Are there any other Commissions represented here? Dr. Brown, will you let us have your report for the San Francisco Commission? Have you the report? Dr. Adelaide Brown, San Francisco Medical Milk Commission: No, I left that with the Secretary. I thought that was in your official duties. President McCleave: A couple of Commissions have reported by mail, not being present or represented here. The Secretary will please read those. Milk Commission, El Paso County, El Paso, Texas. The Medical Milk Commission of the El Paso County Medical Society consists of members as follows: Drs. J. A. Rawlings, President, E. B. Rogers, Secretary, Howard Thompson, J. M. Richmond, Branch Craige and E. C. Prentiss. During the past year the Certified plant of the El Paso Dairy Company has been standardized and brought up to the requirements of the American Association in every particular. The output of Certified Milk has averaged from 100 to 120 quarts daily, the amount gradually increasing. The chemical analyses have shown a consistent average throughout the year. The bacterial counts have averaged less than 1,500 bacteria per cc. during the past six months, the highest count having been 4,500 on two different occasions. The Report of the New Orleans Pure Milk Society L. R. DeBuys, President It is with considerable pleasure that we are able to make a report to your Association which will show a gradual improvement in milk conditions in this territory and an appreciation of the Medical Milk Commission ideas by both the public and the authorities. As you are aware this Commission started five years ago with two dairies producing Inspected Milk in small quantities. Since then there has been a gradual increase in the consumption of Inspected Milk, until now we have five dairies working under our supervision, producing about three hundred gallons of Inspected Milk daily with something over nine hundred consumers. The Commission has been handicapped financially and found it necessary to require the dairymen to pay an increased fee to cover inspection charges, etc. This fee is two cents per gallon where formerly it was one cent. We hope with these increased funds to be able to do more efficient work and have a surplus to be used in advertising Inspected Milk more extensively. So far we have not been able to secure any one to produce Certified Milk, nor have we found it particularly necessary to have a Certified dairy as the milk produced by the inspected dairies, when these dairymen live up to our requirements, suffices for all purposes. The Milk Commission has found it necessary during the past year to withdraw its endorsement from one producer of Inspected Milk and also from a company distributing Inspected Milk. This company had been formed for the purpose of handling Inspected Milk exclusively as a Central Delivery Plant for several of the dairymen, but on account of the improper handling of the milk, the Commission found it necessary to withdraw its endorsement. In the case of the producer, persistent excessive bacterial counts and a lack of attention to the regulations of the Milk Commission caused the withdrawal of our endorsement. The prompt action in both instances was met with commendation from the public and press and an increased support to those dairymen who did comply with our requirements. The Commission has found it difficult to get the consumer to make complaints regarding irregularities to the Commission. |