Lansing, Mich., June 30, 1909. Hon. A. C. Bird, State Dairy and Food Commissioner, Lansing, Mich. : Dear Sir:-I beg leave to submit herewith the results in substance of the work of the Department Laboratory for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1909. During this period there have been examined in the laboratory 1,410 regular samples of food products, of which 421 have been condemned as adulterated or not in conformity with the Statute. In addition to these, 580 samples of butter have been analyzed, which butter was submitted from the samples taken at the monthly educational scoring tests conducted by the dairy division of this department. THE GRAND HOTEL MATTER. The Association of State and National Food & Dairy Departments met for its annual meeting in August, 1908, at Mackinac Island, this State, and one of the most successful and enthusiastic meetings ever held by the association was held in the above month within the confines of this State. The pleasure of the meeting, however, was marred by an outbreak of illness among the delegates and their families early in the session, which condition was the cause of an official investigation by this department, which was reported October 5, 1908, as follows: REPORT. October 5, 1908. Hon. A. C. Bird, Dairy and Food Commissioner, Lansing, Michigan: My Dear Sir:--I beg leave to submit herewith results of the investigation into the causes of the epidemic prevalent at the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island during the convention of the Association of State and National Food and Dairy Departments in the week of August 4, of this year. So many delegates and members of their families were stricken with bowel trouble during the convention and particularly on August 5, that the writer was directed by you to make an investigation into the causes. Dr. W. Bigelow, Chief Division of Foods, Mr. W. G. Campbell, Chief Food and Drug Inspector, U. S. Government) and Dr. C. H. Irion, President of the Louisiana Board of Health accompanied the writer. Inspection of the kitchen and grounds surrounding the Grand Hotel was made during the noon hour. Later in the same day the matter was referred to Mr. G. M. Dame and the entire matter placed in his hands for investigation. A second and more detailed investigation was made by Mr. Dame. Without discussing the findings it may be sufficient to say that Mr. Dame immediately notified the management to make at once the following improvements. All windows in the kitchen and serving room to be rescreened, special attention being given to 17 windows and four doors where the screens in places were damaged. These were ordered replaced by new ones. A general cleaning up of the fish and poultry rooms and the rejection of some stocks of meats then on hand. The building of a new meat cutting room where meats and poultry are prepared for the kitchen, which is to be well ventilated and extra precaution taken with regard to flies. A general cleaning up of the court adjacent to the kitchen and prompt removal of the garbage. The above changes were imperative in order to remedy conditions found by Mr. Dame. Mr. Dame then began an investigation of the water supply and on this investigation Mr. W. C. Campbell and the writer accompanied him. From the examination made at this time it became apparent that a thorough study and investigation of the water supply at Mackinac Island were desirable and Mr. Dame continued his investigations during the entire month of August. Regarding the water supply he found and reported the following: The intake pipe supplying the Grand Hotel extends 200 feet from the shore line of the Straits of Mackinac. The outer end of this pipe dips into eight feet of water. The main sewer extends into the water from the shore line about 165 feet and dips into a depth of 8 feet of water. The distance from the outlet of sewer to the intake of water is approximately 540 feet. The sewer being 540 feet east of the intake pipe. The trend of the outlet of the sewer is practically east. The trend of current in the Straits of Mackinac the greater part of the time is to the eastward, but when the wind blows from points from the northwest to southeast the current of the Straits has been to the westward, as on August 26 the direction of the wind was east by southeast, velocity 24 miles per hour, and the current in the Straits on the south side of the island was to the west, clearly discernable to the eye and at this particular time the sewage from the outlet of the main sewer was plainly noticeable by the discoloration of the water up to and for a distance of 300 feet beyond the intake of the water pipe which supplies the Grand Hotel. There is also on the south side of the island a 16 inch sewer which empties into the Straits on the west side of the city and on the above date mentioned the discoloration of the water was plainly noticeable from this sewer to the intake of water pipe which supplies the Grand Hotel, which is distant about 1,600 feet. After ascertaining the above conditions Mr. Dame forbid the use of any water from the pumping station for drinking purposes on the tables or by the help at the hotel. Continuing Mr. Dame adds that on August 5, a brisk northerly wind was blowing all day and basing his statements on the investigation of August 26, he reports that in his opinion a considerable of the disturbance caused on August 5, must have been due to the water supply. At the time of his inspection on August 26, seven samples of water were taken by him and submitted for investigation to the laboratory. Three of these samples were condemned as contaminated. The sample taken from the tap at the Chippewa Hotel, a sample taken at the pumping station that supplies the Grand Hotel and a sample taken from the tap in the Grand Hotel where water bottles were filled for table use. The following were found above suspicion: A sample taken from the spring from which water was obtained for drinking purposes at the Grand Hotel after August 5, on which date the authorities at the Grand Hotel were cautioned against using the water from the pumping station. A sample taken at the city water works station and some taken at the spring on the west side of the island and a sample taken in the Murray Hotel. It is apparent from the results of the investigation that contaminated water, unwholesome fish and a general lack of proper sanitary kitchen and food dispensing environments were responsible for the prevailing epidemic. While it is unfortunate that these conditions were not apparent to us earlier in the year, yet I think you will agree that it is very fortunate that an investigation was taken up at the time it was. Permit me to say further that on Mr. Dame's second visit to the island shortly following August 5, he reports that the management of the Grand Hotel had complied to the letter with every suggestion made by us while there, and by Mr. Dame later, and that they seem very desirous of doing everything in their power to put the conditions above reproach. Mr. Dame is to be congratulated on his thoroughness in this investigation. Very truly yours, FLOYD W. ROBISON, CITY MILK INSPECTION. Permit me to direct your attention particularly to Bulletin 164, published in April, 1909, dealing with the inspection of milk taken from the retail milk supply of the cities of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Benton Harbor, Jackson, Menominee, Bay City and Saginaw. You will recall that the principal object of these daily inspections was for the purpose of ascertaining the true condition, day after day, of the milk sold at retail in these various cities, bearing in mind especially the cleanliness and general sanitary condition of the product. It was of course hoped at the same time, that this information placed in the hands of the milk dealers would result in an effort on their part to improve the condition of the milk. The results of the work plainly show that this inspection has accomplished already a great deal of good in improving the milk supply of these various cities. This line of work is worthy of the Department's best efforts and as the finances of the department will permit, it would seem advisable to extend this work as rapidly as possible. I am, however, conversant with the fact that with the limited appropriation which the department has, a detailed inspection throughout the year of the milk in many of the cities is impossible and it seems to me that the municipalities themselves should be encouraged to provide milk inspectors, whose duties will require them to make daily examinations of the milk. The persons filling these positions should be young |