Wallowa County chieftain. [volume] (Enterprise, Or.) 1909-1911, 1909-05-27

FIG. XxII-How SPORES ARE FORMED.
much sunshine as possible I'm the milk
room and cow stable also. Sunlight
which is so necessary to the growth of
the higher plants, is fatal to bacteria.
The stable where the milking is
done should be cleaned and aired
every day. A coat of whitewash
should be applied occasionally. as in
addition to being a good germ killer it
also makes the stable much lighter.
Hay should not be fed immediately
before milking, as the dust from 1t is
covered with bacteria. The udders
and tanks of the cows should be kent
perfectly clean. A little dirt falling
from them into the milk will take
with 1t thousands of germs The milk
should not be left in the barn after Ii
Is drawn, but taken Immediately to
the milk room.
Many creameries and city milk deal
ers practice pasteurization. This sim.
ply consists in heating the milk to as
high a temperature as possible with.
out scalding it, This kills most of the
germs, and the few that are left will
not develop rapidly enough to do
much harm. In creameries q starter
that Is. portion Of milk which con-
tains a particular kind of bacteria-is
added after pasteurization and the
cream then "ripened'' for twelve hours
or so. BY thus supplying germs which
are known to produce desirable fla.
Vors and killing the others butter of
very high quality may be made.
There are bacteria everywhere-in
the soil, In the air and in the water.
BY far the greater number of these
are harmless. Even disease germs
are unable to obtain a foothold I'm n
perfectly healthy animal or person.
The secretions of the mouth and the
digestive organs are fatal to MANY OF
them. Even If they succeed I'm GET
ting into the blood they are not vet
out or 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 animal
becomes weakened from one cause or
another that these corpuscles fail to
DO their duty and the germs begin their
destructive work.
The first step in avoiding infection
by disease producing bacteria. then.
Is TO keep the animals healthy nv
proper feed, exercise and shelter The
next point Is to do everything posi-
bic to prevent the germs from getting
into the animals body.
In case contagious disease of anv
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 dins
and bichloride of mercury Zone mart
OF the chemical. two parts salt and
LOCO parts water), should be used
freely. Care should be taken not TO
carry the germs from the sick ami
mails to the well ones while caring for
them.
wounds. such as wire cuts, need es.
pecial care to prevent infection. Or
dinary disinfectants are too Irritating
yet something must be done TO keen
the bacteria from attacking the raw
surfaces. Keeping the wound bopnd
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
II 1t Is gone at in the right wov
Cleanliness, sunlight and disinfection
VIII do much to hold the iniurious
,nes In check. and the others need
10 encouragement to continue doing
heir Invisible though none the less
'eal work to help us. There is no espe.
'iai reason why the germ problem
hould be made matter of constant
ineasiness on the part of the farmer
{ requires scientist to discriminate
'etween bacteria that are iniurions
nd those that are necessary. and in
he meantime 1t is sufficient for the
rdinary agriculturist to be dilIgent IN
himself behind cleanliness
'hus fortified he will have little occa.
ion to make special study of bae.
eria. Let the scientists do that