The times., 1901-05-20

united the occupations of nurse and dairy
maid without a change of clothing.
The report above quoted contains also
/ the following with reference TO the IN
I Spection of dairy COWS:
/ The most important feature of the
| dairy-farm inspection of the District OF
| Columbia is the actual inspection OF the
! cows supplying the milk. Too frequently
! cities employ a large inspection force
| without paying the slightest attention to
/ the actual source of the milk
The mode of inspection IS thal OF
thorough physical examination OF the
/ COW to determine If any disease IS pres
( ent which may affect the milk IN detil-
mental manner. paying particular alleA-
/ ii Il TO the udder and milking OF each
COW, for only in such an Inspection Cah
WE determine the presence of cows having
Z chronic diseases of the Edder-
"On two farms supplying milk to TINS
city ten cows were found diseased out OF
q total Of eighty. or l2t2 per cent On
f5r- ether farms which had not been IN
SPEC; .H for one year eleven cows were
found diseased. Attention Is given to the
proper cleaning Of cows and their udders
before milking, and to the hands ana
! apparel of the mixer.
1t is most difficult to impress upon
the mixers that milking Snouid pe q
clean process and not the dlrueSt work
on the farm. Many farmers require
brushing of the udder and grooming OF
the COW, which is greatly appreciated by
this office. but they counteract this good
work by permitting the mixer 70 nave
dirty hands and vile, greasy clothing.
But the work of the Health Depaftmeht
is net finished when it has dealt with
the dairy farmer. 1t becomes necessary
to take the distributor of milk in hand
and to keep before him wholesome fear
of the Police Court
Tho Health Department though con-
slant i'm its efforts, has not peeu aDlt -
hinder completely the adulteratlon OF mix
witt water. the removal of cream, or
III, addition of coloring matter some
thiIg has been accomplished, but not
onct gh 10 warrant the eXptctatlon M IliaS
II average mlIkman Will have rcgaIu
for the law until heavier penalties are mi
posed.
ton of late to the use of certain SUD
stances generally formaldehyde, to cheek
the fermentation or "souring OF the
milk. The use Of this substance, as well
as boracic or salicylic acids, is, strongly
condemned as injurious TO health
With reference to the causes OF Ter
mentation in milk the report gives the
following: ,,
I'm considering the subject of the acid
ity of milk. it is unnecessary to go lnto
detail as to the causes ascrihed to the
same, since it is now generaIly couceusu
that the souTing OF milk Is caused slinpIy
and solely by micro-organlsms gettlhs
into the milk subsequent to the milking.
These micro-organisms produce Ier-
mentation by acting upon the mix sugar
thereby converting IL into lacuc acld.
This acid in turn acts upon the caseln
and coagulates it. so that II becomes ap-
parent that the souring OF milk ana the
production of Tactic acid must necessarily
be associated with the growth OF these
micro-organisms.
~The problem presented, therefore, to
the sanitarian. is that of keeping the milk
in a pure and sweet condition, by pre-
venting the entrance and growth Of these
1oicro-orga nismS. while the problem pre-
sented to the dairYmen who use Tor
maldehyde is that of keeping the milk IN
a sweet condition, regardless OF its purity.
by mixing with the milk a chemical
which acts as a poison to the micro-or-
ganism.
The Health Department shows conclu-
sively and is trying to educate milkmen
10 the fact that low temperature-or the
free use Of ice about the cans-is the
true way to avoid the action of the germs
to which reference has been made.
Milk is said TO be the finished workman
ship of the Almighty, showing the high
est skill. 1t is the natural and most uni
versal of foods. The District Health De-
partment is engaged in campaign OF !
education for the farmer and milkm2n
What remains is the education of the |
public TO demand that the finished work /
manship Of the Almighty shall not be !
undone By the carelessness, wastefulness, |
or cupidity of man.