CHAPTER V. 



PROCUREMENT OF COW'S MILK. 



As has already been mentioned milk secretion may be retained 

 for a long time by proper emptying of the gland and by the stimu- 

 lation exerted on the gland in the process of emptying. In the 

 presence of incomplete milking, in over-extending the time of 

 milking, and in stasis of the milk, a condition of the gland results, 

 which finally passes into a state of inactivity, when the stimulating 

 condition which is exerted by the retention of the secretion on the 

 secreting epithelia does not again appear with the act of a com- 

 plete milking. The milk secretion therefore is largely dependent 

 on the activity which is exerted on the gland from the outside, such 

 as the sucking act of the calf, or artificial milking. 



Artificial emptying is carried out in various ways: 



1. By closing the upper portion of the teat with the aid of the 

 thumb and index finger, and pressing out the contents of the cis- 

 tern by gradual closing of the hand to a fist in such a way that first 

 the middle finger, then the ring finger, and finally the small finger 

 presses the milk downward and from the opening of the teat. The 

 open hand is passed up again, forcing the milk into the cistern from 

 the upper part of the quarter, the thumb and index finger again 

 squeeze the cistern at its base, and the procedure ends as before. 

 This manipulation is known as "fisting" or full handed milking. 



2. By stroking with the closed thumb and index finger from 

 the base of the teat to its point the milk may also be pressed out 

 ("stripping" or "tipping"). This method of milking requires 

 much less strength than the full handed milking, but causes a 

 lengthening of the teats, and is a painful operation for the animal, 

 as it is frequently accompanied by injuries to the tissue, and tear- 

 ing of the mucous membrane. 



The full handed milking may be carried out by dry milking, 

 while "stripping" succeeds only when the teat and hand are 

 moistened (moist milking), since the necessary smoothness and 

 slipperiness of the skin result only from moistening. 



If the teat is not pressed with the extended thumb (a brace 

 for the index finger), but the thumb is crooked and the teat is 

 pressed and stringed with the bent index finger against the nail 

 surface of the thumb and the knuckle of the joint, this is spoken of 



58 



