220 



to be used by the milker before he begins his work. A 

 pail of water with a box hooked on to one side for cloths 

 and a towel, and a sponge on the other (figure 26), has 

 been found very convenient for cleansing and wiping off 

 the udders and teats, which is absolutely indispensable 

 for getting clean milk. The milker is provided with a 

 small low three-legged stool, with a hand hole in the 

 seat to lift it by. The best pail is a tin one, made of 

 heavy double plate, and having a zinc or galvanized iron 

 ring around the bottom. The top of the pail is about 

 half covered with a slightly rounded cover, to exclude 

 dust, and has a strainer lip on the toj). This is covered 

 by a hinged lid not shown in the engraving (figure 27), 

 but very useful to prevent dust or hairs, at the shedding 

 season, from falling upon the strainer. A strainer of 

 this kind is easily reached by a sponge or cloth on a stiff 

 brush, which is the best thing to clean dairy utensils 

 with. Thus provided, the milker begins his work. 



The process is as follows- : The milk secreted by the 

 glands gradually fills the ducts from the smallest to 

 the largest, the latter being situated at the lower part 

 of the udder and having for their outlets the teats. The 

 duct of the teat, when filled, has considerable capacity. 

 When the teat is gently squeezed from the top to the 

 bottom, the contents are forced out in a stream, and 

 when the pressure is relieved the duct is instantly filled 

 again, not only by the force of gravity, but also by the 

 pressure of the distended membranes of the udder and 

 by the atmospheric pressure as well, because when the 

 teat is emptied and released from the squeezing of the 

 milker's hand, the elastic tube takes its original form, 

 and an air vacuum is formed in the passage, or would be, 

 if the milk were kept back ; this, however, rushes in and 

 fills the space. The pressure should be from top to 

 bottom of the teat, and should be made without drag- 

 ging on it. To pull down the teat, as in stripping, so- 



