350 THE MILK SITUATION IN THE DISTKICT OF COLUMBIA. 



7. The stable should be whitewashed at least once a month. 



8. The manure gutter should be from 6 to 8 inches deep and should be kept 

 free from manure. 



9. The use of land plaster or lime upon the floors and gutters is recommended. 



10. The flooring where the cows stand should be short enough so that all 

 manure will be dropped into the gutter and not upon the floor itself. 



11. The floor should be swept at least an hour before milking, in order that 

 the dust may have a chance to settle before the milking is begun. 



12. If individual drinking basins are used for the cows they should be fre- 

 quently drained and cleaned. 



THE cows. 



1. The cows should be kept at all times in a healthy condition and an exami- 

 nation by a veterinary surgeon should be made twice a year. 



2. The cows should be groomed daily and all collection of manure, mud, or 

 other filth should not be allowed to remain upon their flanks, sides, udders, or 

 bellies during milking. 



3. The clipping of long hairs from the udder and right side of the cow is of 

 assistance in preventing the collection of filth, which may drop into the milk. 



4. The hair on the tails should be cut so that the brush will be well above the 

 ground. 



5. In winter the tail may be clipped. 



6. The cows should be bedded with shavings, dried leaves, straw, or some 

 equally clean material. 



7. The use of horse manure for bedding is to be condemned. 



8. To prevent the cows from lying down and getting dirty between cleaning 

 and milking, a throat latch of rope or chain should be fastened across the 

 stanchions under the cow's neck. 



THE MILKING AND MILKEKS. 



1. The milkers should be clean. 



2. Their hands should be thoroughly washed with soap and water and care- 

 fully dried on clean towels before milking. 



3. Clean overalls and jumpers should be worn during the milking of the cows, 

 should be used for no other purpose, and when not in use should be kept in a 

 clean place protected from dust. 



4. The hands and teats should be kept dry during milking. 



5. The practice of moistening the hands with milk is to be condemned. 



6. The first few streams from each teat should be rejected, as this contains 

 more bacteria than the rest of the milk. 



7. All milk drawn from the cows 30 days before and 10 days after calving 

 should be rejected, and also all milk from diseased cows. 



8. The pails in which the milk is drawn should have as small an opening at 

 the top as can be used in milking. This renders the collection of dust less 

 likely. 



10. Dry fodder should not be fed to the cows during or just before milking, 

 as dust therefrom will fall into the' milk. 



THE MILK. 



1. The milk should be removed to the milk house as soon as drawn and 

 strained and cooled to the proper temperature at once. 



2. A good plan is to strain the milk into cans which are standing in ice 

 water which reaches the neck of the can. 



3. The more rapidly the milk is cooled the safer it is and the longer it will 

 keep sweet. 



4. Ice should be used in cooling, as very few springs are cool enough for the 

 purpose. 



5. If aerators are used, they should stand where the air is free from dust or 

 odor, and on no account should they be used in a stable. 



6. Milk strainers should be kept exceedingly clean and scalded a second time 

 Just before using, and if cloth strainers are used, several of them should be 

 provided, in order that they may be frequently changed during the straining of 

 the milk. 



By order of the department of health, Wheeling, W. Va. 

 (Milk is just as clean as the dirtiest thing it touches.) 



