102 MILK HYGIENE 



vagina, and this exudate contains pathogenic bacteria 

 (streptococci, staphylococci, colon forms, etc.) as well 

 as bacteria of putrefaction (proteus varieties among 

 them). During milking, some of this pathological mate- 

 rial may fall directly into the milk and the udder, tail, 

 thighs and flanks are usually so dirty that contamination 

 of the milk is scarcely avoidable. There are no definite 

 observations of disease that has been caused in man 

 through the milk of such animals, but since these organ- 

 isms are known to be harmful there can be no doubt that 

 the milk may be injurious to health; therefore, its use 

 should not be permitted under any conditions. Since it 

 is readily possible that the cows standing beside the af- 

 fected animals are contaminated b)' the excretions from 

 the uterus, sick animals should not be allowed to remain 

 in the stable occupied Ity the milk producing herd. 



The same applies to cows which retain the afterbirth, 

 but without suffering from septic metritis. The danger 

 of contamination with pathogenic bacteria in this case 

 is not great but the milk may be contaminated very 

 easily by the entrance into it of the bacteria of putre- 

 faction that are present in the purulent discharges. 

 Moreover, the milk — even that of healthy animals — may 

 absorb foul odors during milking, odors which are often 

 very pronounced throughout the whole stable where such 

 an animal is stalled ; or the odor of carbolic acid or creo- 

 lin used for treating the animal may enter the milk. 

 Hence, such cows should be taken to an isolated part of 

 the stable where other cows cannot come in contact with 

 them and their milk should, under no circumstances, be 

 added to the market milk. 



I. Suppurative processes. What has been said of 

 septic metritis applies, essentially, to diffuse cellulitis 

 and extensive suppurating' sores. When animals with 

 such conditions are in the stable, there is great danger 



