274 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



uormal ration of milch cows increased the quantity of millt and the percentage 

 of all solids except ash and sugar in varying amounts, according to the in- 

 dividuality of the animal. The effect was more noticeable in the early part 

 of the lactation period. The content of albumin was increased more than that 

 of casein. 



The factors concerned in milk secretion (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc, 57 

 (1911), No. 21, pp. 1699, 1700). — An editorial which reviews recent investiga- 

 tions on galactagogues, most of which have been previously noted from other 

 sources. 



Machine v. hand milking-, J. G. McMillan {Agr. Oaz. N. S. Wales, 22 

 (1911), No. 10, pp. S59-S68). — A report of milliing machine trials at the Hawkes- 

 bury Agricultural College, where they have been used for nearly 9 years. 



Fi'om this work it is concluded that the flow of milk is not appreciably de- 

 creased when machine milking is substituted for hand milking, except in iso- 

 lated cases, and that the period of lactation is not shortened or subsequent 

 periods of lactation adversely affected in any way. Cows that had been milked 

 by machine continuously for 5 years apparently did not decrease in the annual 

 yield of milk. The percentage of solids in the milk remained the same as with 

 hand milking, and the cows were no more subject to udder troubles. Machine 

 milking was much the cheaper and cleaner when the machines were properly 

 cared for and run by a capable operator. 



The cost of milk production, J. H. Monkad (N. Y. Produce Rev. and Amer. 

 Cream., 33 (1911), No. 1, pp. J,6, 48, 50). — This consists of various estimates 

 made during a period of 25 years in Europe and America. 



The determination of the number of bacteria in milk by direct micro- 

 scopical examination, R. S. Breed (Genthl. Bakt. [etc.], 2. Ait., 30 (1911), 

 No. 16-18, pp. 337-3.'iO, fig. 1; ahs. in Jour. Roy. Micros. Soc. [London], 1911, 

 No. 5, p. 710). — The method described gives a much higher count than plating, 

 and is thought to give a more truthful idea of the real number present. 



Milk standards: A study of the bacterial count and the dairy score card 

 in city milk inspection, W. K. Brainerd and W. L. Mallory (Virginia Sta. 

 Bui. 194, pp. 3-20, figs. 3). — The average of 185 counts of samples of milk taken 

 from the milk supply of Richmond, Va., between August 1 and October 15, was 

 33,000 per cubic centimeter. During the same period the average score of the 

 54 dairies under observation was 81. The samples of milk were taken at the 

 stables. About 70 per cent of the counts was below the average count, the 

 latter being raised abnormally by a comparatively few very large counts. One 

 count of nearly 2,000.000 occurred in a dairy in which the count never at any 

 other time exceeded 14,000, which would indicate that in some cases there was 

 carelessness on the part of the men rather than any fixed condition which pre- 

 vailed. This was further illustrated by a comparison of the counts of the 

 different dairies with the score. As a rule the count varied with the score, but 

 for some unknown reason the highest scoring dairy showed a larger bacterial 

 count than the lowest scoring dairy. 



The authors state that the score card has a value as an educator, is now 

 the most potent influence in raising the quality of the milli supply, and its use 

 should be continued until some better method can be developed. It is defective 

 because it will not effectively guard against disease germs, such as typhoid 

 bacteria. The bacterial count as a measure of sanitary properties of milk is 

 defective because it is cumbersome, and a high count is uot always evidence 

 of a dangerous milk. It is, however, very useful in connection with the score 

 card. 



To show the relation between the amount of dirt in milk and the bacterial 

 content, varying quantities of dirt were added to the milk. With each increase 



