Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 153, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1913 — ASSURE PURE MILK [ARTICLE]

ASSURE PURE MILK

United Nurseries of Philadelphia Win Purity Fight. - - ■ ■ 1 1"■ ■■ Women Members of Board of Managers Carry Point—Violations of Regulations for Benefit of Babies Reported. Philadelphia,—Through the efforts of the Philadelphia Association of X~ Nurseries, a reform in the hang of the milk supply of the city has been brought about and conditions which chiefly the babies of the poor have been greatly remedied The association, made up of woman representatives of the board of managers of twenty-two day nurseries, pas procured the enforcement of an ordinance prohibiting the sale of “dipped jnilk,” except in shops where eggs, butter and bread are sold. Following the baby-saving show of last spring, and still keeping in mind lessons of the milk show of the previous year, members of the association, determined to safeguard as far as they could the lives of the babies, en,trusted to the.care of their nurseries and started a systematic investigation of milkshops in the neighborhood of the nurseries. The infant mortality committee which undertook the investigation applied to leading physicians who have had the work of baby-saving under their direction and procured the services 1 of an investigator who has had experience in public health work. Visits were made to several hunared snops in tne neighborhoods of the day nurserieß. The shops were viewed from every angle that would make them places where it would be prejudicial to the child health to have its milk supply stored. The source of supply, the condition of refrigerating facilities, occupancy of the house and the methods employed in handling were gone into and a card index was made of all places visited. The research showed many flagrant violations of the milk regulations of the department of health. All sorts of menacing conditions were discovered. One of the chief causes of complaint was found to be the cigar and candy shops in which milk was Bold in bulk. In many of these no attempt was made to keep the milk at an even temperature, or to ward off the flies which infested the places. The milk was carelessly handled and dipped out with any sort of a dipper and in any sort of a way. Reports of these conditions were instantly made to the bureau of health, which acted upon them in two cases, revoking licenses, fihd in every instance prohibiting tbe sale of dipped or loose milk in any stores except those which handle bread, eggs or butter and which are qualified to give proper care. The object of the association is to safeguard, by concerted effort, the children who are entrusted to various nurseries and to study their home environment and the conditions which affect their health.