COVERED PAIL TO EXCLUDE FILTH FROM MILK. 105 



EFFICIENCY OF A COVERED PAIL IN EXCLUDING 

 FILTH AND BACTERIA FROM MILK. 



BY W. A. STOCKING, JR. 



Milk of good quality should contain certain proportions of 

 protein, fats and carbohydrates, and should be free from all 

 foreign matter and noxious organisms. Its chemical composi- 

 tion and its appearance, odor and taste should remain unchanged 

 for a reasonable length of time, and it should reach the con- 

 sumer in a clean, wholesome condition. Unfortunately the 

 average milk, as obtained under ordinary conditions, while 

 perhaps meeting all requirements as regards chemical com- 

 position, too often contains an appreciable amount of foreign 

 matter, consisting of dust, dirt, excreta, skin, hair, etc., which 

 during the milking fall into the pail from the air, the cow, and 

 the hands and clothing of the milker. Not onlj^ is such con- 

 tamination objectionable in it.self, but the particles which fall 

 into the milk commonly introduce various species of bacteria 

 which, finding an excellent medium in which to grow, fre- 

 quently give serious trouble to those who use the milk. Among 

 the bacteria thus introduced into the milk maj^ be those which 

 produce very undesirable effects in the products of creameries, 

 cheese factories, etc., those which cause milk under ordinary 

 conditions to spoil .rapidly, and even those which produce 

 serious illness in persons who drink the milk. Having once 

 gained access to the milk these noxious organisms are not 

 easily destroyed by any means that will not at the same time 

 materially affect the condition of the milk itself. 



There is a rapidly growing demand for cleaner and more 

 wholesome milk, both for direct consumption and for the pro- 

 duction of butter, cheese and other milk products, and pro- 

 gressive dairymen are desirous of knowing how to meet this 

 demand. The increasing interest and importance of this ques- 

 tion led the Station to undertake the work described in this 

 article. 



