New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-10-29
THE USES or The L1CTONETER.

CONSTRUCTION AND INDICATIONS or HE INsTRU-
MENr- RELATIONS OF CREAM AND sKIMMED
MILK TO THE DEGREES MARRED-TuE SYSTEM
or THE BOARD OF HEALTH TOO LIBERAL. 10
TIE MiLgMEN.
TO the EditOr Of The Trtbane.
SIR: The lactometer shows the specific gray-
iy OF milk with much accuracy as the Thermometer
does the temperature OF the air the barometer ts
pressure but it Is not under all circumstances TRUST
worthy guide TO the quality purity OF milk for though
II will show accurately evcry variation In specific gravity.
1t will not Indicate the Of the variation II lac
ometer regulated to sink TO certain point on its stem
in water aud then placed In the mixed milk OF herd Of
CRASHED cows it viii throw more OF the stem above tho
milk Let us represent the point to which N sinks In
water by W. and point which IT sinks in pure milk.
"A above 10y F. and lot the portion OF sirm between
and be divided into 100 parts, aud let similar spaces
also be marked below r. This is the the
stem Of IactoIneter graduated The number OF parts
into which the space between and T. Is davided "a
arbitrary may be divided into 80. so, 100, or 10
equal parts. any other number preferred. u
would seem that the Board OF Health have
divided it into 120 parts The zero point In
all ~ placed AZ W. II IL most convenient Tor gen
era use divide II into 100 equal parts, and the lao
tometer in 10y darymen is 80 divided Now, II this
instrument ia placed in the milk OF herd OF common
grassfed COVE. the milk being at the temperature for
which tbe iaciometer regulated, 1t VIII invariably sink
P,u
or below II the milk Of single particular breeds
be taken greater differences will DO shown ALSO II tho
food used is unusually watery unusually dry, 1t VIII
cause the to sink rise little. The widest ex-
tremes have known in individual COWS,
including all the variations occasi0ned by individual
pecu rifles breeds. aud variations In feed which have
resulted froIa hundreds of experiments. have been
II40 and 49, AZ each OF these extremes but single
case has found The extremes for herds 10 less
way and Tie other, being l0i' aud 500 IN a herd
variation than either way and rarely indeed VIII mo
milk OF such cows the proper temperature = observed
Milk which has been fully skinned viii throw the stem
no to about 10 Inc yaihol, N nh from %h,sn ~
may be assumed to have q uniform specific gravity.
fairly he prcdiraed by the lactometer. II fully
SKINNED milk 20 cent OF water IL added The stem
will sink again to Indicating pure milk. SWIMMING,
therefore can easily be pracced without being detected
by laciopeter 1t being easy to balance the increased
gravity occasional b. skinm.ng by adding wafer But
II milk is found heavier than the normal condition.
NAV ughtfuily convict for the abstraction OF
rlghtfll made for excess Of water. There is
possible 'cxcepticn to this rule MIX which contain.
gravity reduced and the lactometer VIII SINK NIT tho
same If II had been watered. But innocent person
need fear of conr lotion in such ease. bccase
sample OF such milk placed IN ereanon't,rEa glass
hours whether the iactoc aJnks from OF
or excess OF water. Men who sell milk gith
of not those whom purchasers are likely to
complain Of Should such an extraordinary case ever
occilI the creamometfr M"uhl mol -ii 20 Stis an! court
WAYS 10 e used in connection with the actomeier give
Significance to it Indications, though the cream test -
only approximately correct.
The limit set by the City Court for watcred milk
indebted in THE TRBusi altogether too liberal ON
tcr The limit is clenr outside Of the widest known
ration IN milk when produced under the unfayor-
able conditions for quality 1.-THE milkmen should
duce their milk to the limit adopted by the tho
consumers would get nothing but mix which Is poorer
than any known to be Prodnced by an apparently
ton 20 the consumer II the variable n for sosnd milk
established By Tao e1Irt were relleed one EaI t
would still give the mman an advantage over the
sumner. for is would mol compel him to meet the consumer
half way between the wdeS: known nriitions and
variations. court may rlshtiuly convict any person
for selling MIX in which the acioneier sinks too low, II
the creamomeer used III connection VITA the acometer
sion: for II water IN excess OF what Is fair a.er-
by feeding dstilleTy slops, brewers grains.
or other watery food by which the MIX Is .ieotuay
sumner is wronged enectualy as i the mllkman mad
poured wafer into ns MIX WIN a dpper Tue course
ing to its fullest extent o. be turned against tue
THIS is all wrong and either the courts the
lie gislanio ought 80 remedy it. What is wanting ia
lay prescribing what shall constitute given measure of
milk. rs dors given measure OF other things A
Dnshe OF wheat. for instance must have spe-
chic gravlty;-it must weigh 90 pounds. Ii IL contains
than The established weight the purchaser must
pay accordingly; II less the seller must make mp the
dctciency. Tue dealers have definite standard BY
which 10 regulate tieir ttasactons quart OF nlik
should have definition equally exact TO be determined
snail have pay according 60 the merit Of hs goods and
the purchaser shall haze what be bargains ier
or L. u. 4. III kHb IRBl NJ H. mat
"mk that has been aduerated with water alone il not
unwholesome," needs some qualification Unless the
water used been boiled. milk diluted with water
spOils than pure milk, where all other circun
stances are the some This result will with
age wen wafer Men who wafer milk do II slyly, and
expected to boil the water TO DO
the pITsst The more impure the water used,
the shorter the time win be before the milk spos IN
which IL II mixed The failure OF miknen 10 ilutc with
the OF water Is evidently prominent OF tho
poor keeping qualities Of their mixture. Is IL fair
ufer that milk m which ncpient decay is gong by
added water is less wholesome for Infants and
adults, than rlilk which has not bcon
with, but is pure aud sOundi L. Il. ARNOLD.
Aecr- York. Oct. ~. 1873.