142 PRACTICAL DAIRY BACTERIOLOGY 



city simply emptied of milk and shipped back again without 

 washing. By the time they reach the farm they are in a very 

 bad condition, smelling strongly, filled with dried milk and bad 

 condition of filth. Such dirty cans a farmer cannot possibly 

 clean and even if they are sent to a creamery where there is 

 plenty of live steam the thorough cleaning is extremely difficult 

 and almost impossible in the few moments that can be given to 

 each can. The next milk that goes to the city in these cans 

 is badly contaminated even at the start and cannot reach the 

 city in good condition. The city distributing company blames 

 the producer when the real trouble is the failure to wash the 

 cans clean at the time they are emptied. All cans should be 

 washed in the receiving station as soon as they are emptied and 

 shipped back in a clean condition. That this rule is not followed 

 any one may prove to himself by simply looking at and smelling 

 of the empty cans he may find at a railroad station. 



DISINFECTION OF THE BARN OR DAIRY 



It sometimes happens that a disinfection of the barn or dairy 

 is a matter of necessity. This may be due either to the appear- 

 ance in the milk of some unusual or troublesome fermentation, 

 like slimy milk, which the dairyman finds difficult to eradicate 

 by ordinary means, or it may be necessary to rid the premises of 

 the germs of some contagious disease. The thoroughness of 

 the disinfection needed will be dependent upon the circum- 

 stances of the case, and it should be done with especial care 

 where it is necessary to get rid of some contagious disease. 



Disinfection of dairy premises is not an easy matter, and to 

 do it thoroughly is extremely difficult. If a barn is to be dis- 

 infected, one must first remove all filth by scraping, and 

 thoroughly clean the floors, walls and ceilings by the use of hot 

 water, scrubbing completely from the floors and cracks all filth 

 that may be accumulated. After thorough washing some dis- 



