n] PERCENTAGE COMPOSITION OF MILK 13 



that such wide limits, as have been just indicated, 

 actually occur under normal circumstances. Indeed, 

 it need scarcely be pointed out that, if this were the 

 case, detection of the adulteration of milk would be 

 rendered a well-nigh impossible task. Where any 

 wide variation from what is above stated as the 

 average composition of milk is found, the conditions 

 under which such milk is obtained may be safely 

 assumed to be abnormal; for, under normal con- 

 ditions, the composition of milk is comparatively 

 uniform, with the exception, perhaps, of the amount 

 of fat. Furthermore, it must be borne in mind that 

 this uniformity of composition is rendered more prob- 

 able by the fact that milk sold for consumption is 

 generally " dairy " milk that is, the mixed milk pro- 

 duct of several cows. Wide variation in the com- 

 position of such milk is not likely ever to occur. In 

 such a case, even supposing the milk of any single 

 cow should exhibit an abnormal composition, the 

 fact that it is mixed with the milk of a number of 

 other cows, several of which may yield milk richer 

 in quality than average milk, serves to a large extent 

 to counteract the influence of the abnormal milk in 

 lowering the quality. 



In forming an opinion as to the genuineness of a 

 sample of milk, the more important data to be taken 

 into account are the " total solids," the fat, and the 

 " solids not fat " ; and the Society of Public Analysts 



