MILK OF DISEASED COWS. 



253 



Mr. Henry W. Vaughn, the milk inspector of the city of Prov- 

 idence, who is a practical chemist, has analyzed samples of the 

 milk of cows sick with the "foot-and-mouth disease," at different 

 stages of the disease. The results of these analyses are very 

 valuable in their relation to the character and progress of the 

 disease, and are therefore deemed important to be given here. 



The following table shows the results of four analyses. No. 

 I. is the analysis of the milk from a cow in the worst stage of 

 the disease. No. II. is milk from the same cow seven days 

 later. No. III. is milk from a cow three weeks after the fii'st 

 symptoms of the disease were seen. No. IV. is the average 

 results of the analysis of thirty samples of milk from healthy 

 cows : — 



i. 



11. 



in. 



IV. 



Reaction, 



Water, percentage, 



Solids, percentage, 



Strongly acid. 

 91038 

 8.962 



Slightly acid. 

 88.710 

 11290 



Alkaline. 

 85.30 

 14.70 



Alkaline. 

 8471 

 1529 



The solids consist of — 



Mr. Vaughn says : " In sample No. I. the caseine was coagu- 

 lated, occupying about fifty per cent, per volume. Under the 

 microscope, there were but few fat globules, of irregular shape, 

 and blood globules were disseminated through the mass." 



The analysis of sample No. I. shows a very serious disorgani- 

 zation of the normal constituents of the milk. The sugar is 

 converted to acid, the percentage of water is largely increased, 

 the proportion of fats is much diminished, while the appearance 

 of blood globules indicates serious trouble.* 



* Report of Rhode Island Cattle Commissioners. 



