THE BABCOCK TEST 



35 



Fig. 6. By slowly releas- 

 ing the pressure of the finger 

 at the top of the pipette, the 

 milk runs without loss into 

 the test bottle. 



until it rises above the mark on the stem. The 

 forefinger of the hand in which the pipette is held 

 is then quickly placed on 

 top of the pipette and the 

 milk is allowed to run 

 down to the mark, where 

 it is checked and held by 

 the forefinger. The test 

 bottle is taken in the other 

 hand, slightly inclined, 

 the filled pipette intro- 

 duced into the neck, the 

 finger removed and the 

 milk allowed to run down 

 the side of the neck into the test bottle. Great 

 care should be used not to lose any of the sample; 

 if only a few drops are spilled the test is spoiled 

 and another sample should be taken. 



3. Adding the acid. Ordinary commercial sul- 

 phuric acid at a specific gravity of 1.82 to 1.83 

 should be used. It may be purchased at any drug 

 store for three or four cents per pound. A better 

 place, however, to obtain the acid is from some 

 creamery or cheese factory. These factories use 

 large quantities of it and usually are glad to 

 supply parties wanting small quantities. It is 

 poisonous and must not be allowed to come in 

 contact with the skin, hands, clothing or tin or 

 iron vessels. If by accident any should be spilled, 



