The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-12-07
BUTTONS NOW MADE OF MILK.
New Use to which the Lacteai Flaia
of the Cow IL Now
being Put.

II anyone were to tell you that the
white collar button which you soc tho
street peddler holding out was made OF
milk you would probably think he WIS
springing on you the latest thing In
catch questions. but it is a remarkable
thing that science has gone SO far that
the transmutation Of the chief product
Of the COW into o substance almost as
hard and insoluble as bone il being css-
ried on every day. 1t has only been re-
,ently, however, that the substance was
procurable in the markets
The process by which ajor portion
of tho lacteal fluid, which had hitherto
been thrown away or used US food for
swine, can be converted into u solid with
great commercial possibilities Is curl
Gus and interesting one.
At the present time this process Is
controlled exclusively by two firms.
During the last four or five months
these concerns have been sending out
agents to creamcries In the eastern
states.
These sgcnts make arrangements
with the creamery proprietors for the
installation Of the apparatus necessary
for the manufacture of the new sub
stance and are authorized to draw up
contracts binding their principals to
receive all that the creamery can pro-
duce for the following two years and
pay for the same at the rate OF five
cents the pound.
Unfortunately, however, as can read
ily be seen, this discovery, while of inn
mense benefit to the creamery manage
ment. is, like the bulk of the discov-
cries beneficial to mankind made by
science, of benefit to the middleman
only, while the producer remains in the
same position as he was before.
The process of manufacture com
mences in what are known as the separa-
tors, which form part of the regulation
equipment Of a creamery. The milk, as
It is brought in by the dairymen, is
poured into these separators, which
consist Of heavy hollow cylinders, with
small orifice at the side and another
at the top. The whole is then made to
revolvo with lightning rapidity by
steam power and the cream is separated
from the milk by centrifugal force, the
former escaping through the opening
in the top and the latter through the
one in the side. This residue is known
as "sklm milk"
This milk is stored in one or more
large tanks, according to the size of the
creamery and the quantity of the lac
teal fluid handled. These tanks are
used as reservoirs to supply smaller
one. When the latter is about three
quarters Allied the milk is scalded by
running steam Through it and under
this treatment soon resolves into q
sticky, pasty mess, in which form It has
always had limited sale on some
markets, being variously known as cot
tage cheese or schmere kase, the Dutch
appellation being the most appropriate
one.
This cheese, after being wellkneahed
by hand, is placed in thin bags and put
under n powerful press, where all the
moisture that it is possible to eliminate
in this manner is exuded. When re-
moved from the bags the cheese disin-
tegrates into small fragments and Is
placed upon trays in what is known as
the drying-room, large apartment,
the interior of which, on account Of be-
ing filled from top to bottom with light
trays having muslin bottoms and which
slide In and out on the cleats, looks
like gigantic incubator or fruit evap-
orator. Around the sides are banks of
water pipes which are capable of rails
ing the temperature to IN indefinite
height. After being subjected to the
intense heat Of this chamber for two or
three days it is removed, golden yellow
in color and rs hard as flint, and is
ready to be packed in bags and shipped.
The exact process, technically con-
sidered, which it undergoes after 1t
reaches Its destination is, Of course, a
secret. But it is known that it receives
chemical treatment that makes 1t sus-
ceptible to dyeing, bleaching, rolling,
pressing and molding, and that from it
are made collars, cuffs, shirt bosoms,
pearl" buttons-an excellent imita-
ton, 1t is said-doorknobs, toys and, in
fact, an innumerable number of SINH
lar articles.-Philadelphia Inquirer.