14 Milk and Its Products. 



amount secreted, and where these irregularities are 

 frequent, will soon result in a considerably diminished 

 flow. The amount of milk given is also considerably 

 affected by the way in which the milk is di-awn. 

 In general, it may be said that rapid milking is 'con- 

 ducive to a large flow. In any event, the milk 

 should be drawn so that no discomfort is caused 

 the animal, and in this respect there is great dif- 

 ference in milkers. A rapid, uniform stroke, with 

 a firm touch on the teat, and a stroking motion to 

 the lower part of the udder, gives the best results. 

 Babcock has found that certain milkers uniformly get 

 not only more but richer milk from the same cow. 

 Control of the animal over secretion. — The secre- 

 tion of milk is involuntary. The animal can no 

 more control it than it can control the respiration 

 or the circulation of the blood. Yet there are 

 numerous conditions of the animal that have a 

 more or less direct effect upon the secretion of milk. 

 These conditions have not only to do with the physi- 

 cal condition of the animal — as the supply of food, 

 the circulation of the blood, extremes of temperature, 

 etc. — but extend in large measure to the nervous 

 organization and condition of the animal. We have 

 already seen that the animal may by an exercise of 

 will more or less completely control the withdrawal 

 of milk already secreted ; so, too, there are nervous 

 conditions that have a great effect upon the actual 

 secretion. Sudden fright, an unfamiliar milker or 

 attendant, unusual excitement, sexual excitement, or 

 the presence of an animal in heat in the herd, an 



