THE RELATION OF MICROORGANISMS TO MILK 



377 



Fig. 130. — Some different styles of small top milking pails which 

 . [a,Te practical and eflScient. (Original.) 



Avoid Dust in the Atmosphere. — Many of the necessary 

 operations of the cow stable stir up large quantities f)f dust and fill the 

 air with microorganisms. It is astonishing to see how many bacteria 

 can adhere to a small piece of hay or may be found in a gram of any 

 of our common dairy feeds. When these materials are fed dry just 

 previous to milking time, the atmosphere of the stable will be filled 

 with orgam'sms which may settle into the milk while it is exposed during 

 the process of milking. The effect of this source of contamination 

 may be seen by the following experiments: 



Bacterial Content of Milk as Affected by Feeding Dry Hay and Grain 



Dairy Utensils. — All utensils which are to be used in connection 

 with milk should be so constructed that there are no cracks or crevices 

 in which the milk can accumulate and from which it is not easily 

 washed. A milk pail with an open seam may be the cause of serious 

 trouble in the dairy. The dairy utensils should be simple in construc- 

 tion, and so made that they can be thoroughly cleansed with ease 



