taining them. Hence, it must be clear that the truest protec- 

 tion to the consumer consists in guarding the source of the 

 milk and the milk itself, from conditions that are known to be 

 accompanied by danger of injurious contamination. 



The value of laboratory examinations as to the niunber and 

 kind of bacteria, pus cells and solid dirt is not under-esti- 

 mated; it is very great as a measure of the thoroughness of 

 the precautions taken on the dairy farm, and during shipping. 

 But the value of this examination should not be exaggerated, 

 as appears to be the tendency in some quarters, and it should 

 not be thought that any laboratory examination can, with 

 safety, be permitted to take the place of regular, expert veter- 

 inary inspections of the cattle, methods and premises. 



The hacteriologic and microscopic examinations of milk that 

 are made in public health laboratories keep contaminated milk 

 from entering the market only in so far as they point out the 

 necessity for the veterinary and sanitary control of dairy 

 farms. (See quotation from Freeman on page 168.) L. P.] 



