PREVENTION OF MILK ANOMALIES 185 



fodder and litter removed, and the floors, partitions, and mangers 

 washed down with water and then with permanganate of potash 

 or other antiseptic solution (carbolic acid and its derivatives are 

 objectionable on account of the facility with which milk takes up 

 any strong odour existing in the byre at the time of milking). 

 It may be best to use sulphur fumigation, followed by vigorous 

 spraying of disinfectant solution (chloride of lime, i lb. to 6 gallons 

 of water), or a hose may be used. 



After the process of disinfection is complete, two days may be 

 allowed to elapse, and then the byres should be lime-washed 

 throughout 



Insistence should be made that for some days at all events 

 (experience unfortunately teaches that under ordinary conditions 

 it is almost hopeless to count upon this being done after the 

 apparent immediate necessity for it has disappeared), the hands 

 of the milkers should be carefully washed, and the udders, bellies, 

 and flanks of the cows sponged over with clean water before milk- 

 ing, which should be carried out in the bare stall, from which all 

 litter has been removed, as recommended above. 



Dairy. — The dairy should be made as air-tight as possible by 

 [pasting up the windows and other outlets with paper, as in the 

 |case of ordinary fumigation by sulphur. Every article, utensil, 

 and apparatus used in the dairy manipulation (including the milk- 

 ing pails) having been thoroughly washed out with hot water and 

 soda and dried, should be placed in the dairy in such a position that 

 the fumes of the antiseptic used may have free access to all parts. 



If this is done after the afternoon's milking, the whole process 

 of disinfection can be carried out with but little interference with 

 the ordinary routine of the dairy, as the utensils will be ready for 

 use the first thing on the morning following, after scalding out with 

 hot water. 



With regard to the special disinfectant to be employed, the 

 authors have found that the vapour of formic aldehyde is the most 

 efficacious, and has the advantage over the fumes of sulphur di- 

 oxide in not affecting to such a degree the metal work of the 

 jvarious appliances. After disinfection, thorough cleansing and 

 |lime-whiting should be carried out. 



Dairy titensils are to be treated as above suggested, or 

 Ithoroughly steamed by forcing steam into them. After steam- 

 ing, they should be rinsed out with fresh pure water. A pure 

 |water supply is one of the most essential dairy requirements if 

 taints are to be avoided. 



