Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-04-13
Why all the Butter Globules
Don't Rise.

Mr., Willard, in . recent article
in the Country Gentlemen, at
tributes the non-rising Of the min
utter globules Of cream to their be-
ing weighed with an enveloping
membrane of heterogeneous matter"
He seems to think there can be no
other ineligible cause for the pro
longed suspension Of the lesser
globules. And 1 regret to see that
Mr.. Goodman adopts without re
serve the membrane theory in
bis ingenious article upon new
nomenclature, in the Rural or July
3. l say | regret it, because Dir.
Goodman is one of the advance
guard Of students and writers upon
dairy topics, and we have right to
demand of them exactitude in
matters of fact. No one acquainted
with the present state of know
ledge in regard to this very dihi-
cult point, will say that it is settle d
afirmatively. Many microscopists
of eminence deny the existence Of
an enyeloping membrane upon the
globule, They are supported by
the authority of leading chemists
and Psychologists, and while the
question remains in this state OF
suspense, we who can claim only
the standing Impractical observers
ought not to dogmatise. Having
studied the matter for 20 years, l
am yet not prepared to dcgmatize.
on the other side. l look forward,
indeed, with great confidence to
the appearance of some conclusive
demonstration oil what believe to
be he iact-tbst the butter globule
swims free and uncovered in the
serum of milk. | see many reason
(some OF which l have rehearsed In
these columnsl why this must be
true, and | know Of no reasons on
the other side except the existence
Of optical appearances under the
microscope, which all experts know
to be Elusive, and the priori
hypothesis that the membrane is
ruptured dy churning, or removed
by the action Of the acid OF sour
milk. AS butter is easily ana
quickly made from sweet cream,
and as from sweet cream, IL ''
produced, it would seem that this
hypothesis meets with slim support
from the practical side.
But what | took up my pencil
particularly TO mention was that
there is quite sufficient cause for
the continued suspension of the
minuter glObules, III the very fact
OF then mlnuteness, without need of
calling in the idea of their being
Weighed by membrane. While
the floating power of the larger
slOtules is sufficient easily to over
Gome that resistance, yet as they
decrease in size the floating power
diminishes until the superior levity
OF the smallest of them is almost or
quite counterbalanctd by the re-,
sistance (viscidity) of the medium.
IN which they swim.
a pertinent illustration of this
comes pat Lefore me in a glass Of
water upon my desk. This pre-
sents a slightly milky or opalescent
appearance, which has existed in
my well water for nearly a week,
and recurs every month or two.
Examination under the microscope
reveals The cause Of this lack of
clearness in very minute fakes o.
mica, which present themselves
quite alundanlly in the field of the |
microscope under a power of POOL
dlsmeters. The well is a bored |
one, cmted with wood, and the
wafer is found in a stratum ofI
quiz k-sand "a feet from the surface. |
| accepted this rather than bore |
deeper, but at the cost of such |
milky-loOking water occasionally |
caused no doubt, by little slides Of |
qnick sand from the sides of tie
cavity below the end OF the tubing. |
The fine particles once set aAoat are
kept from siukIng by the resistance
of the water 10 their movements.
They go soiM whatever currents
occur in the water, but their superior
weight only slowly prevails to make
them move through the water and
and deposit themselves at the bot