486 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [July 2, 1920. 



It would be expected that butter made under such conditions would show 

 a small count on being plated. The contrary, however, was experienced. 

 An enormous increase took place (principally organisms of the coli and 

 proteus groups), demonstrating that contamination had been effected some- 

 where — more than probably through decaying flesh and manure. An 

 examination of the water showed that it was the means by which this 

 infection was carried into the butter. The puzzling part was how to account 

 for the types of bacteria encountered being found in a well 30 feet deep, 

 into wtich the inflow of water was from the bottom. It was ascertained 

 that drainage conditions were satisfactory, and there was no undesirable 

 soakage of any kind. The tanks containing the water used for butter-washing 

 purposes were too well closed in for infection to enter through them. It was 

 ascertained on inquiry that, beside being used for washing butter, the well 

 was drawn upon for the condenser of the refrigerator, and as this water was 

 considerably raised in temperature in the operation, it was pumped up into a 

 tower, some 20 or 30 feet high, and sprayed to the ground level, whei'e it 

 was caught in a shallow concrete tray and from there gravitated back into 

 the well again. It was further brought to light that the overhead tanks 

 used for holding water for the condensers were exposed to the air, and the 

 bodies of drowned birds were at times found in them. Some distance from 

 the factory, too, there was a pig-run. This was kept exceptionally clean, as 

 pig-runs go, no oflfensive smells being apparent, but where there are 

 animals there is bound to be excreta, and the opinion is held that it was from 

 this source that the coli type of infection came, the germs adhering to the 

 dust and small particles of dried manure, and being carried by the wind into 

 the tower from which the water was sprayed ; entrance could easily be gained 

 through the louvres which formed its sides. Moreover, if any pieces of flesh 

 fed to the pigs were not all devoured, any germs produced could be carried 

 into the water in the same way. 



The process of contaminating this water had been going on in this manner 

 for years, until the well had become thoroughly infected. 



The manager of the factory was instructed to get a better water supply for 

 use in manufacturing butter, and was strongly recommended to sink another 

 well some distance from the old one and to use the new supply solely for 

 washing butter. The old well could then be set apart for the condensers, 

 boiler, <fec. This course was recommended in preference to trying to clean 

 out the well by pumping, it being considered that the walls of the shaft would 

 also be contaminated. It might be noted that the engine and boiler rooms 

 of this factory formed a barrier between the pig-run and the butter and cream 

 compartments ; also, on the days our examination was made the weather 

 was calm, which accounts, in part, for the fact that the atmosphere exposures 

 made in the churn room were so clean. 



This example serves to emphasise how easily such a perishable product as 

 butter can be contaminated, and how infection can be obtained through most 

 unlooked-for agencies. Who would have suspected that water drawn from a 

 deep underground spring would be steeped in germs that are to be found on 



