CHAPTER IX. 



ZTbe d&ortalitp of Infants. 



Cow's milk is pure only in the upper part of the 

 healthy animal's udder the lower parts of the milk,, 

 principally that contained in the milk cisterns ad- 

 joining the teats, are, as has been previously shown, 

 more or less polluted by germs that have found their 

 way through the ducts in the teats. Impure milk 

 may be, however, milk physically decomposed by 

 distemper in the cow or by the admixture of filth, 

 dust, hair, scales from the outer skin of the udder, 

 germs of lower organisms, or by all these conditions 

 combined. Watchfulness as to the sanitary condition 

 of the cow and the observation of a scrupulous clean- 

 liness in every handling of the milk tend to lessen 

 the evil influences just named. It is an easy matter 

 for every fanner or dairyman to convince himself, by 

 a simple experiment, of the great difference in keep- 

 ing qualities that result from improved conditions 

 whilst milking. 



Let him enter his stable at a given morning and 

 milk three cows into the milk pail he has been using 

 all along and without any change of accustomed con- 

 ditions ; let him mix this milk and take out a test 

 sample for setting ; let him then take the next three 

 cows, lead them out into the open air, wash the udder > 

 if soiled, with warm water, and dry thoroughly with 



