Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-03-22
FIG. xxl1-uow SPORES ARE roRMED

FIG. xXII-How SPORES ARE FORMED.
much sunshine as possible in the mill
room and COW stable also. Sunlight
which istso necessary to the growth o.
the higher plants, is fatal to bacteria.
The stable where the milking i
dore should be cleaned and airet
every day. A coat Of whitewasl
should be applied occasionally. as il
addition to Icing good germ Killer !
also makes the stable much lighter
Hay should not be fed immediatel,
before milking, as the dust from 1t i
covered with bacteria. The udder
and tanks CT the cows should be KEEP
perfectly clean. A little dirt fallin.
from them into the milk will tax.
with 1t thousands of germs. The mill
should not be left in the barn after II
is drawn. but taken Immediately t.
the milk room. @
Many creameries and city milk deal
ers practice pasteurization. This sim
ply consists in heating the milk to as
high temperature as possible with
out scalding It, This kills most Of tho
germs, and the few that are left will
not develop rapidly enough to d
much harm. In creameries a starter
that is. a portion Of milk which cor
tains particular kind of bacteria
added after pasteurization and tn
cream then 'ripened" for twelve hour
or so. BY thus supplying germs whie.'
are known to prcG.,e desirable fia
vors and killing the others butter OF
very high quality may be made.
There are bacteria cverywhere-in
the soil, in the air and in the water
BY far the greater number Of thest
are harmless. Even disease germ
are unable to obtain q foothold in a
perfectly healthy animal or person
The secretions of the mouth and the
digestive organs are fatal to many of
them. Even if they succeed in get.
ting into the blood they are not yet
out OF danger The blood contains
large numbers of white corpuscles.
which seem to have no duty to per
form but to seize and destroy these
invaders. 1t is only when an ANNA
becomes weakened from one cause or
another that these corpuscles fail to
do their duty and the germs begin thel
destructive work.
The first step in avoiding infection
by disease producing bacteria, then
is to keep the animals healthy b.!
proper feed. exercise and shelter The
next point is to do everything posi-
Bile to prevent the germs from getting
into the animals body.
In case q contagious disease of any
sort appears the sick animals should
be shut up by themselves as far as
possible from the rest Of the herd,
Disinfectants, such as coal tar dips
and bichloride Of mercury Zone part
of the chemical, two parts salt and
1000 parts water), should be used
freely. Care should be taken not to
carry the germs from the sick ami
mails to the we'll ones while caring for
them.
Wounds, such as wire cuts, need es-
pecial care to prevent infection. Or
binary disinfectants are too Irritating,
yet something must be done to keep
the bacteria from attacking the raw
surfaces. Keeping the wound bound
up tightly and sprinkling daily with
powdered iodoform is one Of the best
ways of insuring rapid healing.
The germ problem. like the problem
of weeds and insects, is easily solved
If 1t is gone at in the right way.
Cleanliness, sunlight and disinfection
will do much to hold the injurious
ones in check, and the others need
no encouragement to continue doing
their invisible though none the less
real work to help us. There is no espe-
cial reason why the germ problem
should be made Il matter of constant
uneaslness on the part of the farmci
1t requires scientist to discrimina
between bacteria that are iniurio;
and those that are necessary. and j
the meantime it is sufficient for Il
ordinary agriculturist to be diligent j
intrenching himself behind cleanlines
Thus fortified he will have little occ;
sion to make special study of bae
terra. Let the scientists do that.