No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTUKE. 167 



coustructiug new bnildiii<;s have requested advice iii regard to the 

 laws go\eniiiig such buildings, location oil luiilv houses, out liouses, 

 etc. We have been unable to comply with these requests for the 

 reason that there are no laws applicable to these cases, but we have 

 in some instances been able to render assistance by interviewing 

 the owner and suggesting desirable sanitary features of construc- 

 tion. 



The Board is empowered to act in co-operation with local boards 

 of health for tlie pi otection oi" niillv sup])lies, and mucli of our sani- 

 tary inspection work is conducted in this manner. We find this 

 co-operative work brings good results; on the other hand, when local 

 authorities are iudiifereut, it is hopeless to expect farmers to im- 

 prove conditions. If the sale of imi)ure milk from a dirty dairy 

 farm is proliibited in one place the product will be diverted to an- 

 other town where there is no ordinance. A model milk ordinance 

 and copies of regulations (Circular Xo. 29) will be furnished. 



Section 33 of the act of July 22, 1913, requires the operators of 

 creameries and cheese factories to pasteurize skim milk and separa- 

 tor slops before returning or delivering same to their patrons or 

 other persons. It is customary with many creameries to sell a por- 

 tion of the skim milk to persons who intend using it for the manu- 

 facture of cottage cheese or for condensing purposes. In such cases 

 the law does not require pasteurization ; it is intended to cover skim 

 milk and separator slops which are to be fed to calves and swine. 

 The object of the law is to prevent the dissemination of transmis- 

 sible diseases of animals, such as foot-and-mouth disease, contagious 

 abortion, tuberculosis, anthrax, cow-pox, lump jaAv, etc. The value 

 of this law was forcibly demonstrated during the recent epizootic 

 of foot-and-mouth disease. Several creameries, which were not 

 strictly observing the law, caused such spread of the disease among 

 the patrons that the creameries were forced to close. 



It is to the advantage of creamerymen as well as livestock owners 

 and others interested in the dairy industry, to co-operate in the en- 

 forcement 'of this law. Convictions have been obtained in several 

 cases of violations and our agents are now visiting every creamery, 

 cheese factory, receiving or skimming station in this State to see 

 that this law is being properly observed. Circular No. 28 illustrates 

 a sim])le and inexpensive method of i asteurization. Copies will be 

 furnished to any one interested in this subject. 



During 1914, 892 samples of milk were received in the Milk Hygiene 

 Laboratory for examination. This is an increase over 1913 when 

 673 samples were received. 186 of the sam])les received in 1914 were 

 sent in by agents of the Board who were making investigations of 

 milk supplies at the request of local Boards of Health. 569 samples 

 were received from local dairy inspectors and health officers, 61 

 from practicing veterinarians, 20 from dairymen, and 56 from milk 

 dealers. 



The samples received from State agents and local inspectors and 

 health officers were subjected to a very complete examination. The 

 specific gravity, fat per cent., per cent, solids not fat, and the acidity 

 were determined. 



Tests were made ior preservatives. The number of bacteria per 

 c. c. was determined bj- the standard method. The fermentation 



