ly by studying both the people who are to be protected and
the conditions in which these people live. A street, a cellar, a milk
shop, a sick baby, or an adult consumptive tells more honestly the
story of health rights enforced and health rights unenforced than
either sanitary code or sanitary squad. Not until we turn our attention
from definition and official to things done and dangers remaining can
we learn the health progress and health needs of any city or state.

The health code of one city looks very much like the health code of
every other city. This is natural because those who write health codes
generally copy other codes. Even small cities are given complicated
sanitary legislative powers by state legislatures. Therefore those who
judge a community's health rights by its health laws will get as
erroneous an impression as those who judge hygiene instruction in our
public schools from printed statements about the frequency and
character of such instruction. Advocates of health codes have thought
the battle won when boards of health were given almost unlimited power
to abate nuisances and told how to exercise those powers.

[Illustration: A DAIRY INSPECTOR'S OUTFIT]

The slip 'twixt law making and law enforcement is everywhere found. In
1864 New York state prohibited the sale of adulterated milk. Law after
law has been made since that time, giving health officials power to
revoke licenses of milk dealers and to send men to jail who violated
milk laws. We now know that no law will ever stop the present frightful
waste of infant lives, counted in thousands annually, unless dairies
are frequently inspected and forced to be clean; unless milk is kept at
a temperature of about fifty degrees on the train, in the creamery, at
the receiving station, and in the milk shop; unless dealers scald and
thoroughly cleanse cans in which milk is shipped; unless licenses are
taken from farmers, creameries, and retailers who violate the law;
unless magistrates use their power to fine or imprison those who poison
helpless babies by violating milk laws; and unless mothers are taught
to scald and thoroughly cleanse bottles, nipples, cups, and dishes
from which milk is fed to the baby. We know that these things are not
being done except where men or women make it their business to see that
they are done. Experience tells us that inspectors will not
consistently do their duty unless those who direct them have regular
records of the