208 Milk Control. 



forms an absolute hygienic requirement, and at the same time it 

 is the prerequisite for increasing milk consumption to its full ex- 

 tent. This can be attained only through strict regulation ami 

 flawless supervision of the milk from the beginning of its produc- 

 tion up to the time of its delivery, taking advantage of the great 

 progress which has been made by science in recent times. 



Milk hygiene must commence in the stable. A perceptible 

 step in advance is gained by the introduction of stable super- 

 vision. The preliminary requirements for the production of un- 

 objectionable milk are healthy milking animals, healthy udders, 

 healthy milkers and clean utensils and surroundings. In this in- 

 stance the veterinarian is the proper counsellor, his preliminary 

 training offering the necessary assurance that these requirements 

 for well-managed dairy business will be fulfilled. Besides the ex- 

 amination of the health of the cows, the supervision must be ex- 

 tended to the care of the animals, stable conditions, and the keep- 

 ing and feeding of the animals. The necessity for the most strin- 

 gent cleanliness in milking and for the careful preparation of the 

 milk by means of filtration, and cooling must always be impressed 

 upon the dairyman, as well as the necessity for satisfactory 

 transportation. 



Some hygienists consider the processes of decomposition 

 brought on by contamination and improper treatment of milk as 

 especially important causes for the rapid spoiling of milk. The 

 author considers that their special significance should be laid, in 

 cases of milk poisoning the same as in meat poisoning, to those 

 disease-producers and their products which prove toxic in the 

 animal body, and which originate in the milk-producing animal. 

 The veterinarians prove their value in sanitary police supervision 

 of milk production, by seeing that the cities are supplied with good 

 milk, suitable as food for infants, and by watching the dairy indus- 

 try. This supervision at the site of production produces better 

 results than the most painstaking and well organized inspection of 

 the finished product. The great dangers which threaten man 

 through the causative agents of septic metritis, acute and chronic 

 mastitis, enteritis, etc., are considerably reduced. The control 

 of the milk traffic and milk industry requires especially the co- 

 operation of all factors which come into consideration. Until uni- 

 form regulations for sanitary police supervision are established it 

 will remain the duty of veterinarians and physicians to point out 

 the importance of hygienic measures to the producers through con- 

 tinuous education, indicating also the economic advantages which 

 may be gained for their own interests. In northern Bavaria the 

 supervision of stables, dairies and distributing stations has already 

 been inaugurated by the employment of district dairy inspectors. 



Through periodical stable inspections considerable advance- 

 ment could be made at the present time. This supervision should 

 not only include the so-called certified milk or infants' milk, but 



