228 THE MILK QUESTION 



The objection frequently raised against pasteurization 

 is that it destroys nature's danger signal; that is, it destroys 

 the lactic-acid-producing bacteria; and it is said that pas- 

 teimzed milk, therefore, does not sour normally, but turns 

 putrid. In other words, putrefaction takes place instead 

 of fermentation. This would be interesting if true. But 

 recent experiments and observation have shown that milk 

 properly pasteurized sours normally just as raw milk does. 

 In other words, there are heat-resisting lactic-acid organ- 

 isms which survive the temperatures now recommended. 



It is sometimes said that the heat destroys great num- 

 bers of bacteria in milk and thus conceals the evidence of 

 dirt. As a matter of fact, quite the contrary may be the 

 case, for the heat of pasteurization kills mainly the bacteria 

 that come from the udder, the teats, or the hands of the 

 milker, while most of the resisting spores come from the 

 dirt, dust, cow manure, and survive the heat of pasteur- 

 ization. 



Further, it is said that we must not meddle with nature: 

 that pasteurization is an artificial expedient, and that if 

 nature intended milk to be cooked she would have cooked 

 it for us. Nature never intended milk to be collected, 

 transported, and fed to young mammalian animals of an- 

 other species one or two days after it leaves the mammary 

 gland. Even when fresh, the milk of one species is not 

 well suited to the needs of the young of another species. 

 In the artificial feeding of infants with cow's milk we are 

 meddling with nature. When artificial feeding is necessary 

 we must endeavor to obtain fresh, clean, pure milk. If 

 this is not possible the milk should be purified, especially 

 in hot weather. 



Pasteurization of all the milk supply of a community may 

 not be desirable. The certified milk and the special milk 

 free from contamination may not need it. Certain invalids 

 and babies may require raw milk. Each infant is a law 

 unto itself, but the general public should be protected 



