DAIRY FACTORY PREMISES. 



undestroyed in pasteurising. The small increase in the number of colonies 

 after nineteen hours' retention of the cream in the closed-in batch-holder 

 demonstrates the advantages of this system of pasteurisation, as far ae 

 reinfection from atmosphere and other outside influences is concerned. The 

 cream after being heated is not exposed again, except when in the fluming 

 while gravitating into the churn. This is an important consideration, 

 especially where factories are situated near dusty thoroughfares. 



The air exposures made in the churn room show that there was little 

 infection present in the atmosphere. This was to be expected, as the factory 

 in question is situated on the highlands of the Dividing Range. 



Air Exposures. Each dish was carefully exposed for two and a half or 

 three minutes, being carried about the room so that the plate was exposed 

 in every part. The cold room, as is usually the case, showed the presence 

 of moulds in some numbers ; spraying or fumigating with formalin would 

 be of benefit. Factory managers cannot keep too strict a watch on these 

 rooms mould is so easily carried into them by the butter boxes, the timber 

 of which is often infected before it arrives at the factory. 



It would be expected that butter made under such conditions would show 

 a small count on being plated. The contrary, however, was experienced. 

 An enormous increase took place (principally organisms of the coli and 

 proteus groups), demonstrating that contamination had been effected some- 

 where more than probably through decaying flesh and manure. An 

 examination of the water showed that it was the means by which this 

 infection was carried into the butter. The puzzling part was how to account 

 for the types of bacteria encountered being found in a well 30 feet deep, 

 into which the inflow of water was from the bottom. It was ascertained 

 that drainage conditions were satisfactory, and there was no undesirable 

 soakage of any kind. The tanks containing the water used for butter-washing 

 purposes were too well closed in for infection to enter through them. It was 

 ascertained on inquiry that, beside being used for washing butter, the well 

 was drawn upon for the condenser of the refrigerator, and as this water was 

 considerably raised in temperature in the operation, it was pumped up into a 

 tower, some 20 or 30 feet high, and sprayed to the ground level, where it 

 was caught in a shallow concrete tray and from there gravitated back into 

 the well again. It was further brought to light that the overhead tanks 

 used for holding water for the condensers were exposed to the air, and the 

 bodies of drowned birds were at times found in them. Some distance from 

 the factory, too, there was a pig-run. This was kept exceptionally clean, as 

 pig-runs go, no offensive smells being apparent, but where there are 

 animals there is bound to be excreta, and the opinion is held that it was from 

 tbis source that the coli type of infection came, the germs adhering to the 

 dust and small particles of dried manure, and being carried by the wind into 

 the tower from which the water was sprayed ; entrance could easily be gained 

 through the louvres which formed its sides. Moreover, if any pieces of flesh 

 fed to the pigs were not all devoured, any germs produced could be carried 

 into the water in the same way. 



