Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-10-09

A systematic sanitary inspection of
dairy farms and milk distributing depots
cannot be too strongly recommended.
Recent Investigations in various parts
of the country have conclusively
shown that the conditions on many
are anything but ideal; they are, in
fact, about as bad as it is possible
to conceive. Stables are poorly light,
ed, many having no windows what
ever, and ventilation is not provided
| for. Little attention is paid to floors,
ceilings, walls or stable yards Swine,
horses and poultry are often found in
the same barn with the COWS. Manure
| is not removed, or, when removed, is
thrown through an opening in the wall
or just outside the door, frequently
near the milk room. The necessary
appliances for sterilizing and cooling
in the milk room are often lacking,
making it impossible to properly wash
| and steriliZe pals, cans, bottles, and
other appliances, or to properly cool
and hold at low temperature the
milk before delivery.
Milk dealers as a rule have more re-
gard for sanitation and have better
| appliances than are to be found on
| the average farm, but some common
practices are deplorable. Very few
! dealers have appliances for sterilizing
| bottles. Drivers not infrequently bot
tie milk on the wagon, using bottles
that have come from some household
and have not been sterilized. Wagons
and appliances are not kept in as san
itary condition as should be required.
| A number of dealers do not separate
business from home operations. Help
OF unknown origin and doubtful habits
is employed and is a constant menace
to purity of milk. Up to April of
the present year a careful examina-
ton had been made, under the super
vision of the department of agri-
culture, of 727 diaries supplying milk
to the District of Columbia. This ex-
animation took into account only the
sanitary condition of the farms and
| did not include the health of the ami
mails nor an examination of the water
|
be revealed by observation on the
premises at the time of the inspection.
The average rating of these 727 dair-
les, on the basis of 100 as perfect.
was 45.1 per cent. Thirty-three were
above Is per cent, 27S between so
and rs per cent, and 407 scored less
than so per cent. The tuberculin
test had been applied to but four of
the herds, though many proprietors
stated that the test would be applied
in the near future. With tested herds
and pure water supply assured, this
showing would be deplorable, but I'M
der existing conditions of probable
water communications and but four out
of 727 herds tuberculin tested, what
| shall be said?
A similar study has been made of
conditions in the city, and the situa-
ton there is not nearly so bad as in
the country. Seventy-three depots
were examined, of which 46 were
rated above Is per cent and q be-
tween 57.5 and Is per cent.
The situation in Washington is not
different from that confronting the
health departments of most of the
cities of any size throughout the
country. The public is gradually awak-
ening to the fact that these conditions
must be changed.
The following are suggested as ideal
conditions, which might be used as a
basis for rules and regulations:
The Cows.
1. Have the herd examined fire.
quently by a skilled veterinarian
Promptly remove any animals sus
pected of being in bad health. Never
add an animal to the herd until Ger
tain it is free from disease, especially
tuberculosis.
2. Never allow a cow to be ex
cited by hard driving, abuse, loud
talking, or unnecessary disturbance;
do not unduly expose her to cold OF
storms
8. Clean the entire body of the
COW daily. Hair in the region of the
udder should be kept short. Wipe
the udder and surrounding parts witt
a clean, damp cloth before milking
f. Do not allow any strong-fiavoret
feed. such as garlic, cabbage or tur
nips, to be eaten except immediatel,
after milking.
g. Salt should always be accessible
s. Radical changes in feed shoult
be made gradually.
z. Have fresh, pure water in album
dance. easy of access, and not to,
cold.
The Stables.
8. Dairy cattle should be kept ii
stable where no other animals ar
/ housed ureferahlv witbo,,< co11or :,