THE GERMICIDAL ACTION OF FRESH COW's MILK 



253 



phenomenon argues in favor of the presence of agglutinins, and 

 it must be assumed that agglutination is at least one of the factors 

 that produce the results ascribed to a germicidal property in fresh 

 milk. 



The possible presence of other antibodies is not excluded, 

 however. Bactericidal substances do not react unless comple- 

 ment is present, and it is believed by some investigators, as stated 

 before, that milk contains complement in but small quantity, if 



.?<*. 30. 



,.30, 











CM 



Raw milk. 

 - - Raw milk inoculated. 



Milk heated to 56. 



Milk heated to 75. 



Fig. 83. Relative growth of bacteria in raw milk, raw milk inoculated, and 

 inoculated milk previously heated to 56 and 75 C. 



at all. In the absence of complement, bactericidal substances 

 cannot be instrumental in reducing numbers of bacteria. In 

 colostrum milk, however, complement is usually present, and this 

 fact and the presence of relatively large numbers of leukocytes 

 may explain the marked reduction of bacteria in -the early secre- 

 tion. This phenomenon has been observed by several investi- 

 gators, notably Koning and Rullmann and Trommsdorff. 



The actual facts in regard to the so-called germicidal property 



