222 Milk Inspection. 



examined for the presence of sediment. Sediment, which appar- 

 ently does not consist of cow manure, indicates an inflammation of 

 the udder, provided the colostral stage has passed and the animal 

 is not close to the end of its lactation period. 



The sedimentation test may be and should be undertaken by 

 every dairyman. Its application is easy. Milk which separates 

 recognizable quantities of sediment should not be sold or used as 

 food for man. 



In the scientific examination of market milk and of individual 

 samples, the microscopical study of the milk can no longer be 

 neglected. In Munich the sediment of the milk is examined micro- 

 scopically. A platinum-wire loop (the wire must be completely 

 folded) is passed into the depth of the capillary tubes and without 

 turning, the sediment is lifted out by pressing the wire against one 

 side and drawing out a loopful. In the procedure the contact of 

 the wire with the milk or cream of the tube should be prevented. 

 The smear is made in the usual manner ; the best way is to place 

 the loop of the wire on the slide and by lifting it up a somewhat 

 thicker droplet remains at the place of contact. This may be 

 spread over the slide and is especially well adapted for microscop- 

 ical examination. 



The smear is dried in the air, fixed by heat or alcohol and 

 stained by the ordinary methods. For staining, the author recom- 

 mends a thionin solution which consists of y$ concentrated alco- 

 holic thionin solution and 2 /z distilled water. In market milk are 

 observed many plant fibers and plant cells, plant hairs, staphylo- 

 cocci united into colonies, colon varieties, acid fast rods, sarcina, 

 blackleg and anthrax-like bacteria with or without spores, if the 

 milk was produced under dirty conditions. If such a milk sample 

 is older, not infrequently mycelial threads germinate from the 

 mould spores. If the milk is bad and was transported in dirty 

 cans, besides the colon-like bacteria, staphylococci, diplococci, 

 streptococci, sarcina, oidia and cheese bacteria may be seen. 



If the milk is at the point of decomposition, diplococci and 

 streptococci dominate the field. 



A diagnosis that milk is mixed with the secretion of a cow 

 affected with streptococcic mastitis is only permissible, when 

 besides the cells from the animal body (leucocytes, epithelia under- 

 going fatty degeneration, erythocytes, etc.), the animal forms of 

 streptococci are demonstrated. 



The positive finding is decisive but the negative does not 

 exclude. Market milk which, besides numerous leucocytes, shows 

 no animal streptococci, only creates a suspicion that the secretion 

 is from cows with affected udders. 



The increased amount of horny epithelia of the teats in sam- 

 ples of individual cows indicates the fresh milking period of the 

 animal. 



