Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-03-28

Prof. H. L. Russell. in a recent ad-
dress, said in part:
A prominent factor to be considered
IS one that is generally overlooked by
most people. 1t is the germ life that
comes from the inside OF the udder
We said at the outset that milk was
secreted germ free; as made in the
gland cells 1t is sterile but as soon as
it flows out into the milk cistern 1t
comes in contact with bacteria. II
We look at the section of a cows udder
1t Is easy to see why this is So The
direct communication that It Is pos
sible to establish between the outside
OF the udder and the secretory cells
permit more or less of germ life to
work their way up the teat into the
milk cistern and so on into the nu-
merous folds and convolutions of the
smaller channels. Here are ideal con-
ditions for growth II any germ does
establish itself. Moisture, food, and
warmth abound, and this Is all mi
crobe needs to wax fat. In the few
particles OF milk that inevitably re-
main in the udder these bacteria thrive
and grow. To such an extent is this
so that the first few streams always
contain a very much larger number
than at any subsequent time. The
milk secreted and withdrawn toward
the end Of the milking is much more
nearly as the COW made II, because the
great majority of these organisms are
washed out by the fore milk Just as a
sewer is flushed with the heavy flow
OF storm water.
The third factor to which reference
will now be made is the influence
which the animal herself directly ex-
erts on the germ content of the milk;
also the contamination which comes
from the dust in the air of the barn.
The coat Of the COW could be provided
in no better way 70 aid In the distri-
button Of bacteria, Unless kept thor
oughly clean. her tanks. under parts
and tail become coated with evident
filth. Even where this material Is not
allowed to accumulate there are innu-
merable dust particles caught In the
hair. The majority Of these contain
organisms of all sorts. bacteria pre-
dominating. By planting In gelatine
these hairs taken from the apparently
clean coat Of COW, 1t Is possible
to study the number and kind of or
ganisms that find their way into the
milk. Is It any wonder that milk that
contains dirt sours and spells more
readily than clean milk? There are
but few things richer in germ life than
the filth particles coming from the
focal discharges of animals, or the
dust and dirt Of hay. bedding. etc.
In our experience both the fore milk
and the utensils are the main factors
Of pollution; although the pals are
steamed for a moment. they neverthe-
less often contain a considerable num-
Der Of germs. The fore milk WITH us
assumes a relatively high numerical
estimate. but that is probably because
other conditions are more improved.
1t probably makes but little difference
In the germ content of fore milk
whether the herd is kept In the ordi-
nary manner or special endeavors used
70 keep II in the best form.
There is no question but that care
full handling OF the milk will result
In very great reduction In the num-
Der Of bacteria that ind their way into
the same. This Is evident not only
from psychological tests made on
milk drawn under the best and also
under ordinary Conditions. but also