The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-02-01

| proper cleansing OF the COWS uddefS ana
the washing of the hands of the mixers
before each milking. This alone has an
| important bearing on the dietetic, do
mestie-care and hygenic relationship of a
milk scupply.
| IL is desired to call attention to the re-
quirement and Importance of the free use
of lime and the application of white
wash around dairy premises. Each barn
and milk house should be thoroughly
! for the purpose, and properly white
/ washed, at least once a year; early in
the spring being a very favorable time
for this work.
Dealers are again warned that 1t is
violation of the regulations, and they
must not under any circumstances, use
empty bottles collected from customers
to be filled with milk, intended for deliv-
cry to some other customer, before the
bottles have been properly washed and
sterlized at the dairy, as in this way it
is very possible to carry an infectious dis
ease from one home to another.
Assistance BY Customers.
Customers have been of material as
| sistance to the department by reporting
a number of things pertaining to the
| quality or condition of milk delivered to
| them. In some instances customers have
brought up bottles of milk containing a
deposit of sediment in the bottom of the
| bottles. In all such instances the de-
| partment has made a special investigation
and an effect made to have the trouble
remedied. Results of this kind are due
to improper cleansing of the cows udders,
| II.
proper straining; the soil particles thus
reach the cans of milk from which the
bottles are filled, and on being allowed to
remain the foreign matter gravtates
to the bottom of the bottle where it can
be readily seen. This is an important
| point that must have more attention on
| the part of the dairymen in future who
must see to it that cause for complaint
does>not arise.
| 1t is highly possible that this foreign
substance which may reach the milk
through negligence, may contain colon
Bacilli, a pathogenic or disease produce
ing organism classed in the typhoid group.
Hence the results that might follow from
| the use of such milk can be easily under
| stood.
| Reports of the results of all tests and
the conditions prevailing at the dairiesi
were made regularly, and as a rule were
made public through the local news
| papers. In this way the public has been
! enabled, In large measure to judge for
| themselves as to the sanitary condi-
lions of the diaries, and the quality of
milk furnished
| This publicity has been of great value
in aiding the department in the enforce
ment of the laws and ordinances govern
| ing the work.
Dairymen should remember that they
have moral obligation to fulfill, relative
| to the interest of the health of the con-
| sumers to whom they furnish milk. They
| should be so conscientious as never to
| offer for sale any milk that they would
not use in their own families. The fact
| that many classes of people, children and
| invalids especially, are dependent on
cows milk for nourshment it is of vital
Importance that it be pure and whole
some. For their delicate digestive and
constructive metabolstlc processes require
! the utmost care in the selection of
pure and nutritious food.
Care BY Housekeepers.
There is a certain amount of. care that
must be observed By the consumers them
selves If they would have quality of
milk that is satisfactory. Negligence on
the part of the housekeeper may undo all
that has been done by the most careful
dealer. 1t is the custom with a number
of dealers to deliver milk in the early
and if properly cooled the housekeeper
may allow the milk to remain here for
considerable length of time. Exposed TO
! the suns rays during this interval the
! quality of milk may be materially effect
ed, this being especially the case during
! warm seasons.
| Some housekeepers seem to have adopt
| ed practice that cannot be too severely
condemned, as to placing uncovered or
| open vessels on the veranda at night for
the milk man to fill the following Morn
| ing. The sources from which contamina-
ton might arise are readily seen; such as
dust from the street, and possibly from
such domestic animals as dogs or house
cats, and possibly rats.
IL the consumers would give more at
tention to these important points much
dissatisfaction would be avoided and much
of the blame frequently attributed to the
dealer would be obviated.
| The department in order to still further
| improve the quality of milk this year, rec
ommends raising the minimum stand
ard from per cent of butter fat (pres-
emit minimum allowed) to 3.5 per cent
This will not only protect the honest deal
er, but will aid the department materially
In preventing the sale Of adulterated or
SKINNED milk There is tendency at
present on the part of some to take ad-
vantage of the low standard, and either
remove cream by skimmng or adulterate
by the addition of water.
If the department had sufficient assist
ance it would be possible to go still fur
Their into the details of the scientific side
of the milk question. Samples of milk
could be collected from each cow at the
dairies and by electrical sedimentation, Of
fetal staining and microscopic examina-
ton, determinations could be made for
streptococci opus producing bacteria), pus
cells and tubercle bacilli.
BY this systematic study of milk all
cows having septic or infiamed udders
tuberculor infected, could be detected and
same removed from the dairy herds.
Five arrests were made for violations of