•202 



atoms of carbon and two of water, and lactic acid, made 



by the fermentation of milk, is composed of three atoms 



of carbon and three of water. To put these in a table 



will show the character of these substances more clearly, 



thus : 



One atom of cane sugar consists of CioHaoOu. 

 One atom of milk sugar consists of Ci2H240i.2. 

 Six atoms of acetic acid consists of C,2H540i2. 

 Four atoms of lactic acid consists of C12H24O10. 

 One atom of water consists of HaO. 



Thus chemically the addition of one atom of water to 

 cane sugar changes it to milk sugar, which is much less 

 sweet than cane sugar, and by breaking up one atom of 

 milk sugar into six parts the result is acetic acid or Yin- 

 egar, and by breaking it up into four parts lactic acid is 

 produced. 



The last-mentioned fact is of the most interest to us 

 in the present consideration, for it shows how very 

 easily milk is changed from an alkaline to an acid condi- 

 tion and how the difficulties inherent to his business 

 are precipitated upon the dairyman. 



When by reason of some controlling influence, it may 

 be the heat of the weather, the condition of the atmos- 

 phere produced by heat, the condition of the cows 

 caused by food, heat, or any other accident, there occurs 

 a chemical breaking up or separation of the atoms 

 of the sugar in the milk, lactic acid is produced. 

 This acid is neutralized by the free soda as fast as it is 

 produced, and lactate of soda is formed until the soda is 

 all taken up, when the acid accumulates in the milk, and 

 then serious difficulties arise. But just here it may be 

 worth while to notice that this same acid (lactic) is pro- 

 duced in various substances which are fed to cows, and 

 very freely in the warm weather. The acid of sauer- 

 kraut or cabbage is lactic ; it is also formed in the fer- 

 mentation of moist corn-meal, cotton-seed meal, bran, 

 middlings and oatmeal, and of green clover, grass, wet 

 straw and hay, and other vegetable matters which are 



