92 THE MODERN MILK PROBLEM 



milk on the basis of guaranteed percentage composition, 

 as follows: 



1. Sellers of milk should be permitted choice of one of 

 two systems in handling market milk. Milk can be sold, 

 first, under the regular standard, or, second, under a guaran- 

 teed statement of composition. 



2. Any normal milk may be sold if its per cent of fat is 

 stated. In case the per cent of fat is not stated, the sale will 

 be regarded as a violation unless the milk contains at least 

 3.25 per cent of milk fat. 



3. As a further protection to consumers, it is desirable 

 that when the guaranty system is used there be also a mini- 

 mum guaranty of milk solids not fat of not less than 8.5 

 per cent. 



4. Dealers electing to sell milk under the guaranty system 

 should be required to state conspicuously the guaranty on 

 all containers in which such milk is handled by the dealer 

 or delivered to the consumer. 



5. The sale of milk on a guaranty system should be by 

 special permission obtained from some proper local au- 

 thority. 17 



The application of this idea of fat markings will be 

 reverted to in Chapter V. 



II. BACTERIOLOGICAL 



The total count of bacteria per cubic centimeter * has 

 commonly been accepted as the most satisfactory single 

 index of the sanitary quality of milk. This figure 

 represents in sum the bacterial content resulting from 



* Attention has recently been called by Robert S. Breed (Science, 

 Nov. 24, 1916) to the fact that the customary form of expression 

 number of "bacteria per cubic centimeter" is incorrect inasmuch as 

 " these counts are probably counts of groups of bacteria rather than of 



