We read that men can be fined and imprisoned for
" feeding cattle upon any substance in a state of putrefac-
tion or fermentation," and also that "tuberculosis is very
frequently found in cows that are fed on brewers' grain."
If these are facts, why have the farmers all over the
country constructed breweries and produced a putrid,
seething mass of poison for their cows, cooked and
fermented until its original character is destroyed ? Let
the poorer class of farmers take courage and cease to
lament because they are not rich enough to build a silo.
MILK AND THE COW. IQI
As physicians are often powerless to remove conditions
that produce disease, and establish more natural surround-
ings, so in like manner will it prove a difficult matter for
cattle commissioners and veterinary surgeons to regulate
the conditions that surround the farmers* cows, unless
sanitary rules are made and enforced, as they are in the
production of milk for condensing factories. Their cows
are " fed only on fresh grass, hay or forage, sound grain,
feed, etc. The prohibited foods are ensilage, brewers'
grains, barley sprouts, glucose meal, etc. The dairymen
are required to keep their stables clean and neat, to
whitewash them and to take special care in keeping the
milk free from all contamination. They receive frequent
visits from inspectors, who see that the requirements of
the company are carried out."
Why then should not the same rules be enforced in
every farmer's stable ? If milk to be condensed must be
of the purest quality, why should the milk for creameries
and for home consumption be any less pure ? The need
is no less imperative, as milk and its products are so
universally used without cooking, the danger being far
greater than when cooked.
The highest interests of the consumer are at stake in
this matter, and producers cannot afford to ignore the
claims of an intelligent public, who are rapidly being
aroused upon this subject; they cannot with safety to
purse or conscience refuse to accede to the demand for
purity of animal products, so long as they are considered
necessary articles of food.
FEEDING INFANTS. 1 93
CHAPTER XV.
FEEDING INFANTS.
The time was when mothers did not presume to set
aside the wisdom of nature and resort to artificial feeding
of their babes. This unnatural method of nourishing
infants has of late years become so common as to cause
little comment ; but as the result of it, count the millions
of tiny grass covered mounds in the gardens of the dead,
and remember that the ignorance of mothers and nurses
in feeding infants is worth millions of dollars to doctors,
nurses, florists and undertakers every year !
If such extensive mortality existed among calves and
lambs, chickens and pigs, the alarmed farmers would
demand immediate investigation and, if necessary, govern-
ment appropriations by the million would be poured out
from the 'national treasury to prevent these premature
deaths, which to the farmer mean financial disaster.
Does such disaster mean anything in the millions of
homes thus afflicted, except a serene resignation to the
"Divine will," or perchance a censure of "Providence"
that so "afflicts" us?
But are investigations complete, and preventive reme-
dies sufficient in domestic life which cease with the stock?
If not, why not? If the researches of applied science
have been exhausted, then why the unnumbered hosts of
194 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
infants and young children that are yearly born into the
"kingdom of heaven," when they should have come to
the home prepared to remain and perfect their physical
lives in the kmgdom of earth?
Page 76
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
We read that men can be fined and imprisoned for " feeding cattle upon any substance in a state of putrefaction or fermentation," and also that "tuberculosis is very frequently found in cows that are fed on brewers' grain." If these are facts, why have the farmers all over the country constructed breweries and produced a putrid, seething mass of poison for their cows, cooked and fermented until its original character is destroyed ? Let the poorer class of farmers take courage and cease to lament because they are not rich enough to build a silo.
As physicians are often powerless to remove conditions that produce disease, and establish more natural surroundings, so in like manner will it prove a difficult matter for cattle commissioners and veterinary surgeons to regulate the conditions that surround the farmers' cows, unless sanitary rules are made and enforced, as they are in the production of milk for condensing factories. Their cows are " fed only on fresh grass, hay or forage, sound grain, feed, etc. The prohibited foods are ensilage, brewers' grains, barley sprouts, glucose meal, etc. The dairymen are required to keep their stables clean and neat, to whitewash them and to take special care in keeping the milk free from all contamination. They receive frequent visits from inspectors, who see that the requirements of the company are carried out."
Why then should not the same rules be enforced in every farmer's stable ? If milk to be condensed must be of the purest quality, why should the milk for creameries and for home consumption be any less pure ? The need is no less imperative, as milk and its products are so universally used without cooking, the danger being far greater than when cooked.
The highest interests of the consumer are at stake in this matter, and producers cannot afford to ignore the claims of an intelligent public, who are rapidly being aroused upon this subject; they cannot with safety to purse or conscience refuse to accede to the demand for purity of animal products, so long as they are considered necessary articles of food.
CHAPTER XV.
The time was when mothers did not presume to set aside the wisdom of nature and resort to artificial feeding of their babes. This unnatural method of nourishing infants has of late years become so common as to cause little comment ; but as the result of it, count the millions of tiny grass covered mounds in the gardens of the dead, and remember that the ignorance of mothers and nurses in feeding infants is worth millions of dollars to doctors, nurses, florists and undertakers every year !
If such extensive mortality existed among calves and lambs, chickens and pigs, the alarmed farmers would demand immediate investigation and, if necessary, government appropriations by the million would be poured out from the 'national treasury to prevent these premature deaths, which to the farmer mean financial disaster. Does such disaster mean anything in the millions of homes thus afflicted, except a serene resignation to the "Divine will," or perchance a censure of "Providence" that so "afflicts" us?
But are investigations complete, and preventive remedies sufficient in domestic life which cease with the stock? If not, why not? If the researches of applied science have been exhausted, then why the unnumbered hosts of
infants and young children that are yearly born into the "kingdom of heaven," when they should have come to the home prepared to remain and perfect their physical lives in the kmgdom of earth?