104 MASTITIS OF THE COW 



a rich sediment, is sent in for examination. The milk 

 sample natm^ally should not be strained or filtered. 



2. One should avoid precipitation in the milk. Casein 

 precipitation occurs in acid fermentation. This is pre- 

 vented, especially in summer, when the milk easily becomes 

 sour, by the addition of an antiseptic, such as boric acid, 

 which does not alter the milk. Addition of chloroform is 

 not indicated, since chloroform induces precipitation of the 

 fat. The precipitations cause the smear to be poor in 

 bacilli and lessen the possibility of finding the tubercle 

 bacilli. 



3. If the result of the examination is negative a new 

 sample of milk can be obtained after from ca. eight to 

 fourteen days, which often contains more tubercle bacilli 

 which are then more easily discovered. 



4. Strict cleanliness should be observed in the collection 

 of milk samples. This reduces contamination with acid- 

 fast organisms. 



If the condition is so old and the udder so destroyed 

 that no milk can be obtained, a harpoon probe must be 

 made in order to obtain a diagnosis; moreover, such a 

 sample is unnecessary. 



Treatment of these conditions is not permitted in 

 Sweden, according to the Royal Order of May 1, 1903. 

 The animal must be slaughtered if the diagnosis of udder- 

 tuberculosis is established. [No such Federal law exists 

 in this country, but interstate shipment is prohibited. The 

 majority of municipal laws prevent shipment of milk from 

 such a cow into the municipality.] 



If the animal is suspected of udder-tuberculosis it can 

 be isolated from the rest of the animals and milked last in 

 anticipation of the diagnosis. Its milk should not be used 

 at all for man and animals, or only after it has been boiled. 



