REPORT OF STATE DAIRY INSPECTOR. 45 



production and sale require. The creameries of the state require 

 and maintain a certain standard of cleanHness from their 

 patrons, and stand ready to indorse and give their aid toward 

 securing legislation requiring every person in the milk or cream 

 business to have a license from this department. 



Dairy Inspection. 



More dairy farms should be visited and instructions in the 

 production and handling of milk and cream given to the farm- 

 ers. To this end competent instructors or inspectors should be 

 employed. The source of supply is the proper place to begin 

 improvement of the important food, milk, and instruction of 

 the producer and milker is the important beginning. 



Milk Inspection. 



In January, 1914, samples of milk and cream were required 

 by statute to be analyzed at the Experiment Station, Orono. 

 Owing to increased distance of shipment and to very poor 

 express delivery, the arrangement has hardly been satisfactory 

 to this office. The work could be carried on more conveniently 

 if a laboratory were situated in a more central part of the state 

 where express shipments could be received better. As local 

 inspection in cities and towns is being left to the state, more 

 samples should be taken by more agents and a more complete 

 examination of the milk, as regards the cleanly condition or 

 freedom from disease, should be made. A central laboratory, 

 situated in Augusta, where a chemical and bacteriological ex- 

 amination of the milk supply of each city could be made each 

 month, would result in desirable milk conditions. An aUiance 

 with the State Board of Health with regard to a central labora- 

 tory has been discussed and it seems advisable. 



The control of bulk milk sold from a quart measure in gro- 

 cery stores is important. These measures are as much a menace 

 to public health as was the common drinking cup, and should 

 be eliminated by proper legislation. 



The bacterial content of milk and cream in our large com- 

 munities should be known and an examination made for milk 

 carrying disease-producing germs. 



Legislation that would protect the shipper and milk dealer 

 would be that which required milk cans to be sealed during ship- 

 ment over railroad or trollev lines. 



