SANITARY PRECAUTIONS. 453 



investigated, been due to the use of contaminated water for the 

 cleansing (sic) of dairy utensils ; the small amount of water left 

 on the sides of the vessel is sufficient, if the water contains virulent 

 germs, to infect the milk ; even more so does this occur if the 

 practice of washing out the dairy vessels with a little water after 

 milking, and adding this to the milk, prevails. The precautions 

 against this form of infection are also obvious, though more 

 difficult to carry out in practice than those mentioned above. 



Summary of Sanitary Precautions. The following recom- 

 mendations were made by the National Clean Milk Society : 



Yards around Cowsheds. 



1. The yards around cowsheds should be well drained and dry, 

 and sheltered as much as possible from the wind and cold. 



2. Manure should not be allowed to collect in the yard, and 

 should not be allowed to accumulate near the cowshed or the 

 milkhouse. 



3. In the yards paved paths should be provided so that the 

 cows can enter the cowshed without wading through mud or 

 manure. 



The Cowshed. 



4. The cowshed should have an abundance of light and 

 ventilation. 



5. There should be at least 600 cubic feet of air space per 

 cow. 



6. It is desirable that the cowshed be used for no other pur- 

 pose than the housing of cows. No part of it should be used 

 as a store for hay, straw, or other foods, nor the roof as a store 

 for lumber of any sort. When any part is being used for such 

 a purpose dust and cobwebs gather, and the difficulty in keeping 

 the shed clean is greatly increased. 



7. The floor should be free from cracks and crevices and be 

 made of some non-absorbent material. Concrete floors are best, 

 as they can be more easily kept clean than earth or brick. 



8. If there is a loft over the cowshed the ceiling should be made 

 tight, to prevent chaff or dust falling through. 



9. The cowshed should be whitewashed at least once every 

 three months when the cows are in overnight, and at least once 

 during the summer period when the cows are out overnight. 



10. The manure gutter should not be less than 6 to 8 inches 

 deep, and should be kept free from manure. 



11. The stalls where the cows stand should be so short that 

 all manure will be dropped into the gutter and not on the floor 

 of the stall. 



