Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-27
Water Producing Milk.

Water Producing Milk.
In communication to the French Acad-
envy of Sciences, Mr.. Dancel discusses the
influence of liquid food and of water up
on the quantity of milk secreted by herb
ivorous animals. 1t is found that by the
melting cows to drink large quantities of
water, the quantity of milk yielded by
them can be increased several quarts per
day without materially injuring its quanti-
ty ; the amount of milk obtained is ap-
proximately proportional to the quantity
of water drank. Cows which, when STALL
fed with dry fodder, gave only from nine
to twelve quarts of milk per day, at once
produced from twelve to fourteen quarts
daily when their food was moistened by
mixing with it from eighteen to twenty
three quarts of water per day. Besides
this water taken with the food, the ami
mails were allowed to drink at the same in
tervals as before, and their thirst was ex-
cited by adding to the foddera small guam
tity of salt The milk produced under the
water regimen. after having been carefully
analyzed and examined as to its chemical
and physical properties, was adjudged to
be OF good quality excellent butter was
obtained from it.
The precise proportion of water which
can thus be given to cows with advantage
is a point not readily determinable since
the appetite for drink differs very consid-
erably in different individuals. But by
observing the degrees Of the appetite for
drink in Il number of cows. by taking note
of the quantity of water habitually con-
sumed BY each Of the animals in the course
of twenty four hours, and contrasting this
quantity with that of the milk produced,
Dancel asserts that any one can see that
the yield of milk is directly proportional
to the quantity of water absorbed. He
asserts. moreover, i'll as many words, that
a COW which does not habituallv drink as
much as twenty-seyen quarts of water per
dav. and he has met with such. Is actually
and necessarily a poor mixer She will
give only from five and half 10 seven
quarts Of milk per day. But all the COWS
he has seen which drank much a. fifty
quarts Of water daily We're excellent milk
ers, yielding from nineteen to twenty-thrce
quarts or more of milk. In his opinion
the quantity Of drink consumed by the
COW Is Il valuable test OF her worth a. 4
milk-producer.
Ia the main, these experiments do but
illustrate with greater precision facts which
have lone been familiar 10 practical men
The nurse when sucking the human infant,
does not naturally consume much more
solid food than before. but of Liquids she
drinks much larger quantities. After 4
COW has begun to give milk she drinks tai
more water than before ; the quantity OF
water consumed increasing, according tt
| Dancel from between eleven and eighteen
quarts per dav, or even less. to twenty
seven, thirty-six. or forty five quarts OF
more-at least for the breed of cattle upoi
| which he has experimental.
! As Dancel Justly urges, however, the
! principle here laid down has hitherto no
been sufficiently recognized by men o
science III many Of the experiments which
| have been undertaken for the purpose o
comparing the value Of different kinds o
fodder, and of determining the inhuenc,
which they severally exert upon the pro
duction Of milk.
Though presented as ii physiological
disquisition, and by no means withou
value from the Psychologist point of view
Dancel's paper will be more likely to at
tract general attention from its bearin!
upon the vexed subject of adulteration
II the accuracy Of the proposition be ad
mitted, that by inducing a COW to drinl
every day twenty odd quarts of waite
more than her accustomed ration, severa
additional quarts of milk can be obtained
from her. and if the practicability of tn
operation be accepted as proved, then tn
question at once arises as to whether or III
the method now under discussion will b
i'll any way preferable to the time-honore'
custom Of adding certain amount of wa
ter to the milk after it has left the COW
The customary method, at first sight, Ger
tainly seems to be simpler than the pla
now limited at, of poruing six times tn
needful quantity of water down the cow
throat but it is well nigh certain that tn
milk thus indirectly extended a
Dancel, will be superior in quality to mill
watered to the same extent after the mill
has been taken from the COW. Not onl
will analysis be likely to exhibit d ia
closer approximation to the composition O
ordinary normal milk in the former cas-
than i'll the latter, but we may be sure tina
milk diluted within the animal will receiv
Il certain share, at least, of that elabora
ton and conmingling of its ingredient
which is yet inimitable by man, ant
which so widely distinguishes ORGANIZED
matter from that which is unorganized
The milk of the water-soaked cows mus
still be regarded as milk-not as adulterat
ed milk. Milk of quality somewhat in
ferior to the ordinary it may be. in spit,
of Mr. Nj. Dancel's opinion to the contra
nv, but it is still the animal secretion, milk
and not mere mixture of milk and water
Here, as in host of other cases of so call
ed adulteration, it would be well if dealer
would only adopt some system of JUS
adaptation of price to quality Just as il
the Russian markets one may choose be
tween first, second, and third quality o
eggs, according to the length of his purs,
and the delicacy of his taste.-The Na
tion.