Mat 24, 1907] 



SCIENCE 



819 



lacUci of Hueppe. Kruse regards Bacter- 

 ium acidi lactici as identical with Bac- 

 terium aerogenes, and Heinemann is of the 

 same opinion. Heinemann believes that 

 Bacterium lactis acidi is a myth and that 

 Streptococcus lacticus is the principal 

 lactic organism in milk. 



A number of samples of 'certified' and 

 'market' milk were analyzed in order to 

 ascertain the nature of the lactic acid 

 bacteria to be encountered in such milk. 



The organisms encountered in certified 

 milk were principally staphylococci and 

 streptococci, the former type being by far 

 the most numerous. Neither of the other 

 types of lactic acid bacteria were found in 

 certified milk, except in isolated instances. 



The organisms encountered in market 

 milk were principally rod-shaped organ- 

 isms, and some of these were of the type of 

 Bacterium acidi lactici of H'ueppe. 



The exact nature of all of the lactic acid 

 bacteria encountered in market milk is still 

 undetermined. Their sugar-splitting pow- 

 ers are believed to assist in a more definite 

 classification. 



Commercial Bacterial Inspection of Milk 



and Its Results: S. C. Prescott. 



The problem of providing sweet, clean, 

 and wholesome milk to the inhabitants of 

 large cities is one which demands attention 

 both from the sanitary and the commercial 

 standpoints. 



Two distinct lines of action have been 

 suggested: first, to limit the production of 

 milk to individuals who will comply with 

 a strict set of laws or ordinances; and 

 Second, to treat milk in some way so as to 

 destroy the bacteria. 



After more than eighteen months con- 

 stant supervision of about two hundred 

 farms I should like to present a record of 

 some of the results of bacterial examina- 

 tion and farm inspection. 



It must be accepted, I think, that for a 

 long time to come the major portion of the 

 milk consumed in a large city will be the 

 product of the ordinary farm, handled by 

 ordinary men, and shipped by the ordinary 

 methods of transportation. Too sweeping 

 demands for immediate reforms, or laws 

 which can not at present be obeyed, will 

 serve only to precipitate a milk famine. 



In this work I have attempted first of all 

 to visit every farm, and to give the farmer 

 whatever help was possible by suggesting 

 improvements in his methods or appliances, 

 and by explaining the reasons for our in- 

 spections. Especial attention was given to 

 the effect of cleanliness and cold. A small 

 pamphlet on clean milk, written in very 

 homely language, has been sent to each 

 producer. 



I have graded the milk from these farms 

 for purposes of convenience into six groups, 

 according to the number of bacteria, as 

 follows : 



Grade A, Below 10,000 bacteria per cubic 

 centimeter. 



Grade B, 10,000 to 50,000 bacteria per 

 cubic centimeter. 



Grade C, 50,000 to 100,000 bacteria per 

 cubic centimeter. 



Grade D, 100,000 to 250,000 bacteria per 

 ciibie centimeter. 



Grade E, 250,000 to 500,000 bacteria per 

 cubic centimeter. 



Grade F, Above 500,000 bacteria per 

 cubic centimeter. 



The percentage of samples exceeding 

 500,000 fell from 30.5 in June, 1905, when 

 inspection began, to 2.3 in May, 1906 ; but 

 with the advent of hot weather and the 

 scarcity of ice, rose, as would be expected, 

 to a maximum of 12.1 per cent, in July, 

 1906, but dropped again as cooler weather 

 approached. 



On the other end of the scale, the per- 

 centage of samples containing below 10,000 

 gained from 2.0 in June, 1905, to 37.3 per 



