DAIRY FARMING DAIRYING. 675 



In structure the granules resemble starch grains but do not give the typical 

 reactions of amyloid substances. The micro-chemical reactions obtained by the 

 author were more like those of a lipoid, although they were only slightly solu- 

 ble in ether and chloroform. The granules contained a central nucleus with 

 concentric layers. They varied somewhat in shape and in size from 5 to 200 

 microns. Although found in animals of all ages and at all periods of lactation, 

 they were more numerous in older cows, sometimes as many as 10 or 12 being 

 found in one alveolus. The central nucleus and the presence of the smaller 

 granules in the alveoli alone and not in the tissues indicate that they are 

 formed in the alveolus about some particle of foreign matter as a center. 



The influence of feed on the composition of milk, C. Pokcher {Hyg. Viande 

 et Luit, S {1909), ^o. 9, pp. Jf 09-.'/ 2 5). —This is a discussion of some Europi.an 

 investigations on this topic. 



The passing' of medicaments and toxic substances into milk, C. Porcheb 

 {Ilpg. Viundc ct Lait, 3 (1909), No. 9, pp. 425-437).— Some recent investiga- 

 tions are discussed with reference to the effect on the consumer of using milk 

 which has absorbed toxic substances or drugs which may have been adminis- 

 tered to the lactating animal. 



The transfer of boric acid from cattle food to cow's milk, S. H. Collins 

 (Durham County Council, Ed. Coin., Offerton Bid. 3, pp. 21-24; aJ)s. in Dairy, 

 21 {1909), No. 248, p. 217). — This experiment was undertaken because boric 

 acid is often used to prevent Indian cotton-seed cake from becoming moldy. 

 Boric acid appeared in the milk as soon as cows were fed daily i lb. of a meal 

 which contained 5 per cent of boric acid. About one-fiftieth of the boric acid 

 appeared in the milk. When the meal contained 1 per cent of boric acid about 

 one-seventieth appeared in the milk. 



"As milk needs i per cent boric acid to produce any useful preservative in- 

 fluence, there seems no difficulty in distinguishing between milk preserved with 

 boric acid and milk contaminated by the use of foods containing boric acid. If 

 milk be found to contain more than 0.1 per cent boric acid the milk has prob- 

 ably been deliberately preserved with some boric preservative, but if less than 

 0.01 per cent boric acid be found in the milk, the source of that small amount 

 of boric acid is to be looked for in the food of the cow." 



Are the colostrum bodies a reliable test for determining the stage of the 

 lactation period? Anders {Arch. Wiss. u. Prakt. Tierheilk., 35 {1909), No. 

 4-5, pp. 380-415). — As a rule the period in which colostrum bodies were found 

 varied fi'om 4 to 40 days before, and from 2 to 10 days after, calving. They 

 were sometimes present, however, when cows were considerably advanced in 

 the lactation period, especially after a sudden change in the feed, and they 

 were also found in the udders of heifers and in cows with diseased udders, so 

 that the presence of colostrum bodies is not a sure proof that the milk was 

 obtained from a new milch cow. From 1 to 3 days after calving freshly 

 drawn milk gives an acid reaction. Colostrum milk was not found to contain 

 less fat than other milk. The specific gravity of milk, other than the first 

 milk, was quite constant for 4 weeks after calving. 



A bibliography of literature on the subject is appended. 



The Trommsdorff leucocyte test for milk, G. RDhm {Ztschr. Flcisch u. 

 Milchhyy., 19 {1909), Noa. 6, pp. 210-217; 7, pp. 243-251; 8, pp. 271-277; abs. 

 in Rev. G6n. Lait, 7 {1909), No. 13, pp. 309, 310; Milchio. Zenthl., 5 (1909), 

 No. 7, pp. 319, 320). — This is a critical review relating to the determination of 

 the leucocyte content of milk. 



It is thought that the Trommsdorff test is of value as a preliminary diagnosis 

 of mastitis and other diseases of the udder. It is by no means a positive proof 

 but is a simple and easy method of dividing the herd into sound and suspicious 



