Got Milk? Milk Pasteurization and Mortality: 1900-1924 (thesis)

Abstract

In this paper, I analyze the impact of mandatory milk pasteurization in 38 large U.S. cities on five subsequent mortality rates: the mortality rate from diarrhea and enteritis for children under the age of two and the all-age mortality rates from non-pulmonary tuberculosis, typhoid fever, scarlet fever, and diphtheria. I analyze these outcomes using Vital Statistics data for 38 large U.S. cities spanning 1900 to 1924 in conjunction with decennial census data from 1900 to 1930. I find a statistically significant relationship between milk pasteurization ordinances and a decline in mortality from non-pulmonary tuberculosis and diarrhea and enteritis. I find evidence of a similar relationship between milk pasteurization ordinances and mortality rates from scarlet fever and diphtheria.