CHAPTER XII. 

 CONTROL OF THE MILK-SUPPLY. 



A better regulation of the milk-supply is emphatically needed, and 

 this need has become more and more evident as the facts enumerated 

 in the last chapter have been gradually disclosed. It would enable 

 the dairyman to avoid the many troubles due to undesirable organ- 

 isms and would be to the public at large a means of protection 

 from the illnesses due to milk. In consequence of this need, a 

 series of regulations and suggestions have arisen looking toward 

 the improvement in the quality of milk We may best consider 

 these under three heads: i. Dairy pro 1 lems. 2. Transportation 

 problems. 3. Public control. 



I. DAIRY PROBLEMS. 



Manifestly the first place demanding attention in the attempt 

 to reduce the possible evils resulting from undue bacterial contamina- 

 tion is the dairy. The primary lesson to be learned here is the 

 need of cleanliness. But there are several subordinate divisions 

 of this general subject. 



The Cow. The health of the cow is a matter of such great 

 importance that it hardly needs to be said that no sickly cow should 

 be allowed to contribute to the milk-supply. All tuberculous cows, 

 in particular, should be excluded, or their milk used only after 

 pasteurization. Every dairyman should be .on the watch for udder 

 troubles, and if any signs of hardness, of inflammation, or of running 

 sores appear on the udders, or if the animal gives bloody milk, 

 she should at once be excluded from the milk-producing herd until 

 completely recovered. The cow should also be kept clean. For- 

 tunately, there has been a decided change in this respect, and at 

 the present time cattle in dairies are not infrequently groomed and 



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