The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-22

cows are herbivorous, not carnivorous, and,
therefore, don't like animal food. This
water may be pumped from a well standing
just back Of the barn, within a few feet OF
or perhaps in the cowyard-a well into
which liquid manure filters through the
thin layer of intervening soil; a well that
the farmer won't use even for washing
purposes for his family; but then, you
know, any old thing will do for the cows.
The cows. if they say anything, during the
long winter months, will often repeat that
~oft-quoted remark Of the Governors of the
Carolinas. They will think it a long time be-
tween drinks that are drinks, and with a
memory OF the little, clear and cool brook,
nesting in the moss at the northeast cor
ner of the pasture, ever in their minds,
they will make a Decline for that spot,
with their tails in the air. and, with as
near an approach to flying as is possible
for them. they will break into a mad run
for this brook when turned out for the first
time in the spring. For a while the pasture
food will be fresh and n~ourishing, but soon
the burning sun will scorch the tender
grass. and the little that is left will be dry
and scarce. Then, If the farmer lives near
the city. he will. ~perchance. indulge his
cows In a daily load or two of brewers
grains TO supplement this meagre diet, and
as the fall comes on the cows may have a
little fodder corn for breakfast and sup
per. At night, and during the winter, the
cows sleep on q floor Uttered and soake
with ordure, which is heaped in a pile and
thrown out Of doors only when there is no
room left in the tie-up to get around. The
farmer himself is not always ~scrupulously
clean as TO his own person.; he may occa-
sionally curry his horse, but he would be
shocked at the mere idea of curTying his
COWS, much more washing them; therefore.
the cows try to rub themselves sleek
against the trees, but the result is bad for
the tree and does not improve the personal
appearance Of the cow.
THE MILK SHE PRODUCES.
The farmer never thinks of changing his
clothes to milk, unless il is to put on the
Oldest and dirtiest that he has; often does
not wash his hands; if whiskers or hair,
flies, bugs or dirt get into the milk, it
doesn't matter; no one is the wiser for it,
since they are all strained out. This strain
ing, by the way, usually takes place in the
barn or some clubhouse, for the dairy is
usually in or adjoining the barn. This milk
is shipped in old and often rusty and more
often uncleansed cans, carted over hot and
dusty roads, stands on station platforms
until the cars come along, and it is then
thoroughly stirred up in its journey to the
city. Here, if report be true, it is mixed or
blended, so to speak, the richer milk bring
ing up the standard Of the low and vice
versa, and If there is too high a cream
point it is lowered to the standard, which
is purposely made a somewhat low average.
1t is then put in cans and delivered to the
distributors, who, If avaricious and unprin-
cipled. may add chalk or even substances
that 1t would not be nice to mention, and
at least twelve hours after milking time the
consumer receives the much-desired fluid.
Sometimes he gets a great deal for his
money. Tubercle is not the only thing to be
feared in milk. Other diseases may possibly
be carried and given by milk. Milk has a
strong affinity for disagreeable and noxious
things and doors. Disease germs may be
absorbed in milk in transit, and thus con-
vey these to human beings.
Again, milk may be primarily innocuous
but be contaminated by the cans. Cases of
typhoid fever have been traced TO cans that
had been washed in water from a we'll that
contained the typhoid germs, and other
diseases may doubtless be conveyed in a
similar way, while contagious and infec-
tious disease germs may be unwittingly
added to milk by employees who handle it.
These are facts proven beyond dispute, and
it is the constant endeavor Of sanitarians
to formulate and enforce hygienic condi-
tons which counterfeit such possibilities.
AS for the COW herself, 1 would not select
her as a type or as the incarnation of
beauty, but she is surely a useful animal.
When 1 see a COW L always think of the
farmer who sent a five-gallon key to town
for molasses. The grocer charged him for
ten gallons, and as he paid the bill the far
mer remarked: Il don't care so much for
the overcharge, but what worries me is the
strain on the key" 1 never see a COW but
that 1 think of an animated barrel with the
hoops Dust off" from too great internal
strain. I am nervous, too, and the calm
way in which the COW coughs up her cud
and slowly ruminates, as If she had all the
time there was, and an hour or two to
spare, exasperates me.
THE COW ALWAYS WITH Us.
But we can't get along without cows.
Horses may sometime disappear, as the
horseless age is perfected, but cows will
always be with us. Horses may become as
scarce as buffaloes and be seen only in
wild West shows or dime museums as rel
ics Of a noble but then nearly extinct race,
while cows will continue to be better bred
and better cared for as the ideal dairy farm
materializes. Taken as an all-round benefit,
a cow takes the lead; we all know about
the milk; down South she sometimes drags
the plow and hauls the meagre crop to
market for the Cracker" and the daugh-
ter, sitting astride the COW, with a %"gunny"
bag for a saddle, goes TO the pOstOffice or
the railroad station for the news and the
latest gossip. When the cows usefulness is
over. as a milk-making machine, she still
further contributes to our food supply,
while her horns, hoofs n skin serve other
useful ends; even her blood goes to f~ertilize
the soil and her hair helps to plaster our
houses. Reasoning, therefore, on the prin-
ciple that handsome is that handsome
does" the cow is the belle Of animal So
ciety.
City cows are a delusion and a snare.
They remind one of the solitary cow that
used TO travel on the transatlantic steam
ers. People paid the steward a high price to
get the milk from the cow, and, judging
from the quantity sold she must nave given
down at least twenty-five gallons a day.
The city COW is sedentary, as compared TO
her country cousins. Her quarters and her
axaroisa = limited and She can0Ot piov-