Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1909-05-01

flNt AA1l tlOW oiOhho Ann fORAtnb
much sunshine as possible in 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
should be applied occasionally, as In
addition TO being a good germ killer 1t
also makes the stable much lighter.
Hay should not be fed Immediately
before milking, as the dust from it is
covered with bacteria. The udders
and TANKS of the cows should be kept
perfectly clean. 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 it
is drawn but taken Immediately to
the milk room.
Many creameries and city milk deal
ers practice pasteurszation. This Sim
ply consists in heating the milk to as
high a temperature as possible with
out scalding II. This kills most of the
germs. and the few that are left viii
not develop rapidly enough to do
much harm. In creameries a starter
that is. portion Of milk which con-
tains particular kind of bacteria-is
added after pasteurizauon and thu
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
frrl. hn staodn
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 In
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 dnty to per-
form but to seize and destroy these
invaders. 1t is only when an animal
becomes weakened from one cause OF
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 by
! 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 a contagious disease of any
sort appears the sick animals should
be shut up by themselves az 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 anil
mails to the well ones while caring for
them.
Wounds. such as wire cuts, need es-
pecial care 10 prevent infection. Or
binary dislnfectants 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 II is gone at In the right way
Cleanliness, sunlight and disinfectior
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 u.s. There is no espe
cial reason why the germ problem
should be made a matter of constan
uneaslness on the part Of the farmer
1t requires a scientist to discriminate
between bacteria that are Injurious
and those that are necessary. and fl
the meantime 1t is sufficient for tn,
ordinary agriculturist to be diligent Il
lntreDching himself behind cleanliness
Thus fortified he will have little occa
sion 10 make a special study Of bac
terra. Let the scientists do that