The record-union., 1896-09-06
FOR EXTRACTING MILK.
A Singular Device Which Is Popular
in Sweden.

One of the most interesting reports
issued from the State Department for
some time has just made Its appear
ance. 1t is from Thomas B. O'Neill.
United States Consul at Stockholm,
Sweden, and is description Of a milk
ing machine in use In that country. The
report will be read with delight by the
farmers and their wives and daughters.
1t Is as follows:
By friendly permission of Dr. de La
val, I had the pleasure of seeing this
wonderful apparatus in operation on his
estate, Lila Ursvik, Spanga County,
Sweden, where experiments have been
going on since October last under the
management of Mr.. Abr. Forssell.
1t has been thoroughly tested and
found perfectly satisfactory to intro
duce to farm owners. The milking it
self-that is, the evacuation Of the I'D
der-is effected by mere mechanical
working Of the teat, and not, as lately
appeared In the press. by combined
squeezing and sucking. Artificial sue
tion has proved to be rather impracti-
cal and injurious when repeated too
often, and this is the reason why such
method has been omitted in construct
ing the lactator
The milking is done by two special
organs" or pair Of cylindrical rub
Der rollers, that catch the teat at the
root, thus shutting off the milk therein
The rollers then move downward to the
lower part OF the teat, from whence the
milk is squeezed out by two plates NOV
ing parallel with each other. The func-
ton OF the rollers is rendered possible
by hold abOve-the sO-called roof that
Is regularly moved against the udder,
something like the knock that the calf
gives when sucking, which facilitates
the descending Of the milk in the teats,
as well as the secretion Of the milk in
the vesicles Of the udder
Every milking machine has four diff
ferent arms, one for each teat, which,
although with joint axle, work inde-
pendently Of each other, and even alter
nate in their movements. Their adap-
tatlOn to the udder is done instantly.
The arms move very easily on point
and spring attachments in every direc-
ton without losing the necessary stead
mess. The pressure against the udder
is erected through the apparatus being
fastened on to a horizontal rod, and
so balanced that the front part, which
contains the driving mechanism, and
is consequently heavier, presses the
lighter back part against the udder.
This pressure can be increased, If nee
essary, by loading the front part still
more.
The axle that is common to the four
arms act on a very ingenious, but, at
the same time, very simple system Of
eccentric pulleys and levers The rota-
ton of the axle is effected through
cord that is led over the heads of the
cows, and is common to all machines
Through simple coupling, this cord
gives speedy rotation to the flexible
axle, through which the rotation is COM
municated to the axle Of the four arms
by means of coupling which is done
in an instant.
The placing of the apparatus on the
COW Is a very easy performance. A
belt that carries the rod is strapped on
the cow with single buckle The ap-
paratus is first started and then put on
the rod, and the different arms are ad-
5usted under their respective teats,
which the rollers then Immediately
seize. and the milking begins.
The milk is conducted through fun
nel-shaped so-called ''teat protectors"
and short rubber tubes to a small tin
cup that is hanging in these tubes, from
whence, through vacuum arrange
ment. 1t is drawn up to a tin bucket that
hangs over the head of the COW. From
the moment the milk leaves the teat
protectors till 1t gets into the tin bucket
1t has not had any connection with the
outer air. Even If the apparatus works
awhile after the udder gives no milk,
and consequently the cup becomes
empty, no air enters on account of an
automatic arrangement, and this has
the result that the milk Is as free as
possible from bacteria and keeps longer
BY using the lactator the great trouble
to procure and control dairy maids is
avoided; besides, the milking Is done In
a sufficiently clean manner to meet all
hygienic demands. The dairy products
will. Of course, become more valuable.
The cows seem to enjoy being treated
by the machine.-WashingtO Star