RAIL WA Y TRANSPORT 529 



The question of the railway transport of milk is a large one, and 



of some complexity. But there can be little doubt that there is need 

 in this country for much improved arrangements and a more rapid 

 service. Special vans should always be employed for the conveyance 

 of milk, and refrigerators wherever possible and where the quantity 

 to be conveyed is considerable. There is also a great lack of milk- 

 sheds at stations receiving large numbers of churns, which are at 

 present frequently left standing on station platforms in sunlight for 

 considerable periods. Quick transit and sealed churns are also a 

 requirement. 



5. Final Treatment of Milk 



A consideration of the methods of control and protection of 

 milk would not be complete without mentioning some of the 

 ways in which milk is treated after milking. The chief of 

 these are filtration, the use of preservatives, pasteurisation, and 

 sterilisation. But at the outset, we desire to state, that if 

 dairy work is properly carried on and the herds, cowsheds, 

 and milking operations are of the standard suggested in the 

 foregoing pages, these final processes are not required for milk 

 which is produced and consumed in the same locality. Under the 

 circumstances of modern civilisation, however, we admit that it 

 may be necessary that some such processes should be adopted. 

 Milk comes into the hands of large contractors or companies for 

 purposes of distribution to all parts of the country and under such 

 circumstances it is deemed necessar\' by many authorities to 

 filter, pasteurise, or preserve it. Personally, we are strongly of 

 opinion that what is required is a naturally pure milk supply in 

 contradistinction to an artificially purified milk supply. As things 

 are at present, however, we admit every kind of protection is 

 needed. 



{a) Filtration has been practised for some time by the Copen- 



and if in consequence the consignor is unable to take any precautions to prevent 

 persons tampering with their contents. In reply, he was informed by the Rail- 

 way Companies' Association, in a communication dated 12th October, and 

 signed by Sir Henry Oakley, that "senders have been for a long time allowed 

 to send milk in sealed cans, the companies accept the declaration of the senders 

 as to the quantity conveyed, no extra charge being made ; the only condition 

 the companies require to be fulfilled is that the tare weight of the cans shall be 

 stamped on the outside of the can, so that in case of doubt the quantity of milk 

 within the chum can be approximately ascertained by allowing \o\ lbs. for each 

 gallon of milk declared. It does not appear to the companies that there is any 

 difficulty in the senders protecting themselves against alleged loss of milk in 

 transit by sealing, padlocking, or otherwise fastening the cans." 



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