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 drawn. 
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- 
eal condition of the animal—as the supply of food, 
the circulation of the blood, extremes of temperature, 
ete.—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 
