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ABNORMAL COWS' MILK. 



Abnormal cows' milk is not merely an adulterated milk, but 

 all milk which is not fit to be used as food without detriment to 

 the interest of the consumer. 



Colostrum Milk. 



The colostrum is the first nourishment for the young animal, 

 and, as such, of considej'able importance ; but it is not suited for 

 dairy use. All dairy societies, for this reason, prohibit its sale. 

 Condensed milk factories refuse the milk. until the sixth day after 

 calving, while in cheeseries they accept it only on the eighth day, 

 since colostrum is said to interfere with the curdling and the sub- 

 sequent process of ripening of the cheese. 



Eugling has made very thorough investigations regarding this 

 milk. He says : " The first three to four liters of the beastings milked 

 " after calving, are a yellowish-white mucilaginous fluid, which is 

 " frequently colored by blood, exhibiting a reddish-brown tint. It 

 " possesses a peculiar odor, and has, at 15° C, a specific gravity of 

 " from 1.06 to 1.08. 



" The cream rises very slowly ; but, after long standing, where- 

 " by a skin of dry albuminates forms on the surface, from 50 to 75 

 " per cent., by volume, of cream is obtained. The boundary be- 

 " tween milk and cream is not well marked. 



" Colostrum is, on heating, converted into a solid cake. It pos- 

 " sesses originally an acid reaction, 9,nd keeps well, especially after 

 " a dry albumen skin has formed on its surface. It then appears un- 

 " changed, even after two weeks' standing. The casein, on curd- 

 " ling, developes a gas, and between the heavy flocks remains a red- 

 " dish-colored, opalescent serum, which bears great similarity to 

 " blood serum. The products obtained after this flrst milking as- 

 " surae gradually the character of cows' milk, until, after four days, 

 " the secretion of the glands shows all the properties of normal 

 " milk." 



The change from colostrum to milk which may be used for in- 

 dustrial purposes, is, therefore, effected in a comparatively short 



