Machine- versus Hand-Drawn Milk. 425 



stoppered and immediately cooled to about 40 deg. Fahr. These 

 bottles, each containing a pint, were retained at a low tempera- 

 ture until delivery at the laboratory, where they were placed 

 in an ice chest until tested. 



The tests were conducted during January, February, March 

 and April. During April, owing probably to the cooler weather, 

 a marked general decrease in the bacterial content of both 

 milks was experienced, the total number in each often falling 

 below 250 per c.c. For this reason, the counts obtained in 

 April have not been included in working out the averages given 

 below. 



On several occasions samples were delayed through various 

 circumstances, so that they did not arrive at the laboratory 

 until the second day after milking, and on other occasions, 

 through error on the part of the agent, both samples were not 

 received simultaneously, consequently certain days' records 

 could not be included ; but this does not interfere with the 

 general results. 



Throughout the test the appearance and palatableness of both 

 milks were excellent, no taint or odour ever being detected, 

 and the bottles on standing showed a good layer of cream. In 

 regard to ordinary keeping qualities the milk, when kept in the 

 ice chest at about 50' deg. Fahr., invariably remained perfectly 

 sweet and wholesome for at least 48 hours after milking, even 

 during the hottest summer months. 



So far as the health of the cows, the condition of the udder 

 and the quality of the milk, were concerned, throughout the 

 whole period no difference whatever could be detected between 

 those milked by hand and those milked by machine. 



General Bacteriological Results. 



Throughout the period under review the average number 

 of bacteria present per cubic centimetre was in the hand-milk 

 7500, and in the machine-milk 6750. Naturally there was often 

 a decided difference between the bacterial content of the two 

 samples. For example, it was found that on 25 occasions the 

 hand milk contained at least twice the number of bacteria 

 present in the machine milk, while on 12 days the machine 

 showed at least double the number found in the hand milk. 



IG 



