The Washington herald., 1910-09-04

he truth of this is driven home with
rtling emphasis in recent mono
ph issued by the Department of Agri-
ture, which is as applicable 10 the
dweller as to the farmer in the
ntry.
is pointed out that improper treat
81. 1t Of milk in the home renders it unfit
for food purposes. specially for young
children, and it may be added that the
average treatment OF milk by the house
keeper is careless and improper treat
ment. This bad treatment begins with
pouring the fluid from the bottles in
which II is brought TO the house before
a careful cleansing Of the mouth OF the
vessel. which easily and almost inevita-
bly, accumulates dust In transit from the
dairy TO the consumer. The bottle should
be carefully cleaned by a cloth dipped in
hot water before the stopper is removed.
URcIean Vessels Dangerous.
The second step in bad treatment of
milk is in pouring il from the bottle into
unolesn pitchers and jars in which It is
10 be stored until used. much better
way is 10 remove from the cleansed bottle
such portion as is needed for immediate
use and the residue stOppered again and
placed in the refrigerator. Mix should
never be left uncovered. even in the
refrigerator, where other articles OF food
are stored
MIX is the simplest form Of food, but
It Is a liquid and one Of the most active
absorbents OF bacteria known, hence the
necessity for keeping the milk In the
bottle tightly stoppered until used
This leads up TO the third step in the
improper treatment of milk in leaving IL
unnecessarily exposed to the air. This
should never be done. specially when the
dangerous fly Is about The fly takes 10
milk as the milk to the fly. It becomes
his burial and winding sheet if he can
possibly reach II. and the fly at all times
is a pestilence or is loaded with pesti-
lence, which the insect gathers from a
thousand sources. His access to the milk
supply or any article of food IS a mis-
take and a crime to persons who have
average intelligence and should know the
danger.
Cold Temperature Essential.
fourth step In the improper care Of
milk is allowing It 10 become warm, after
It has left the refrigeration, 70 which all
intelligent milk dealers submit it in these
days.
The monograph OF the department con-
tains the following plain statement re-
garding the care OF milk:
milk absorbs impurities whenever it is
exposed to the air or placed IN impure
vessels. Some OF these impurities may be
the bacteria OF contagious diseases; others
may cause digestive troubles which, IN
the case OF babies, may prove fatal Much
Of the cholera infantum and summer III
ness Of small children Is due solely to-
the milk they drink as the principal part
OF their food
THE amount of contamination depends
upon the condition Of the utensils and
the air with which the milk becomes in
contact Even the air OF a clean room
contains many impurities. The science of
bacteriology is raising the standard Of
clean utensils. Bacteria which get into
the milk From the air or from unclean
utensils multiply rapidly so long as the
milk remains worn-that is, fifty degrees
or higher At lower temperatures they
either lie dormant or increase very slow
ly. Cleanliness and cold are imperative IL
the milk is to be kept pure. Milk from
grocery or bakery which Is kept in
an open can. possibly without refrigera-
ton, Is dangerous and should be avoided"
II may be said in passing that what is
true Of milk is true Of cream. and in less
degree butter and lard.
Receiving the MILK.
The best way Of buying milk is in bot
ties. Dipping milk from large cans and
pouring Il into customers receptacles on
the street. with all the incident exposure
10 dusty air not always the cleanest. is a
bad practice. Drawing milk from the
faucet OF a retailers can Is almost as
bad as dipping, because, although the
milk may be exposed to the street air
little less than by the dipping process, 10
Is not kept thoroughly mixed. and some
consumers will receive less than their pro-
portion OF cream,
II situated so that It is impossible to get
bottled milk. do not set out overnight an
Covered vessel to collect thousands of
terra from street dust before milk is
into it. Have the milk delivered per-
nally TO some member Of the family If
sible; II not, set out a bowl covered
plate, or, better still, use a glass
p serving Jar in which nothing but milk
put. In the latter case use a Tar with |
"a glass top. but omit the rubber band !
per tickets are often more or less !
s1ledi hence II they are used do not put !
them in the can, bowl, or jar. For the /
same reason money should not be put in |
the can.
Take the milk into the house as soon as
possible after delivery. particularly in hot |
weather. Never allow the sun to shine
for any length OF time on the milk. |
Sometimes milk delivered as early as 4
a. m. remains out of doors until or 10 |
o'clock This Is wrong. II It is inoon- 1
venient to receive the milk soon after it \
is delivered. indicate to the driver
sheltered place. or provide a covered box
In which the milk bottle or can may be
left
Handling and Keeping MILK.
On receiving the milk put It in the re-
frigerator at once and allow 1t to remain
there when not using from IT. Except in
cold weather. milk can not be properly
kept without ice Unless the milk bottle
is In actual contact with the Ice it will
be colder at the bottom Of the refrigera-
tor than IN the ice compartment. as the
cold air settles rapidly.
Keep milk in the original bottle till
needed for immediate consumption: do not
pour II into a bowl or pitcher for storage.
Carefully wipe or rinse the bottle, espe-
cially the mouth, before pouring any
milk from it. so that dust or dirt which
may haze gathered thereon or on the cap |,