WHY THERE IS A MILK PROBLEM 13 



out, " distinguishes humans from animals. Decency 

 adds pleasure and appetite to food. Cleanliness con- 

 tributes most to decency. Milk may be safe because 

 it is boiled but may be indecent because it is filthy." * 



Bacteria and Milk 



Dirt (using the word to include all forms of con- 

 taminating matter) in considerable quantities may be, 

 in itself, more or less deleterious to health. But it is 

 the associated bacteria which constitute the real ob- 

 jection or danger. Various forms of contamination are 

 accompanied by various forms of bacteria, which may 

 be more or less deleterious or dangerous. In the case 

 of milk, they exert their effect upon the consumer either 

 through their action upoA the milk or through their 

 infectious character. 



1. Fermentation, Decomposition. Many of these or- 

 ganisms thrive in milk, and in so doing alter its 

 composition and excrete their waste products. The 

 ordinary souring of milk is the usual form of fermenta- 

 tion. It may be argued that such a fermentation as 

 this is not necessarily harmful, soured and fermented 

 products being used as foods or even as remedies. The 

 answer to this is that if such products are desired they 

 should be obtained by known and controlled processes. 

 The fermentation or decomposition of milk by miscel- 

 laneous, uncontrolled organisms is objectionable, and 

 when the milk is to be used as food for infants and 

 delicate persons it is dangerous. In every such process 

 are produced greater or less amounts of substances 



*Dr. North rates milks according to safety, decency, and price. 

 (See p. 155.) 



