22 Director's Report of the 



average of 428 bacteria per cubic centimeter. But inasmuch as the 

 back quarters of the udder were found to contain an average of three 

 times as many bacteria as the fore quarters and inasmuch as the 

 hind quarters furnish more milk than the fore quarters, it is probable 

 that the average germ content of the milk as drawn from the udder 

 would be about 500 bacteria per cubic centimeter. Neither the age 

 of the cow nor the period of lactation was found to exert any 

 marked influence upon the germ content of the udder. 



Thus the cow herself in any average herd may be expected to 

 discharge approximately 500 bacteria per cubic centimeter, so that 

 milk containing 500 bactera per cubic centimeter will ordinarily be 

 produced even where extreme precautions arc used. This knowledge 

 is of great importance to the certified milk producer and shows again 

 that it is entirely feasible for a man, who is trying to produce a 

 milk with the lowest possible germ content regardless of cost of 

 production, to reduce the germ content of the milk produced by 

 a selection of cows whose freshly-drawn milk normally contains few 

 bacteria. 



The controlling factor in the prod net ion of sanitary milk. — Much 

 attention has been given during the past few years to the production 

 and distribution of sanitary milk. It is well recognized that milk 

 has important relations to the health of the consuming public and 

 that its production also bears very directly upon the prosperity of 

 thousands of New York dairymen. Various means have been 

 considered, legal and otherwise, for improving the quality of milk. 

 After a careful consideration of the whole question, this institution 

 has consistently held that while both education and law may greatly 

 aid in securing, for the people of our cities, milk of a desirable quality, 

 yet after all that may be done in the way of advising better conditions 

 and enforcing inspection laws, no real progress will be made unless 

 the consuming public recognizes the fact that it must pay enough 

 for milk of a high quality to justify its profitable production. In 

 brief, the financial stimulus is held to be the main factor in securing 

 for public consumption milk of a sanitary qualitj'. It is particularly 

 self-evident that dairymen will not apply faithfully the tuberculin 

 test and scrupulously watch the health of their animals, maintain 

 the conditions of unusual neatness in the stable, give the animal 

 extra cleaning, and insist upon healthy and neat attendants unl 

 they are paid for this extra trouble and expense. Data so far 



