CHAPTER VI 



HANDLING OF MILK AND CREAM 



Milkers and Other Employees 



THE milker should be clean and be clean shaven; hair on the 

 face is inadvisable. Before milking and before putting on 

 his milking suit he must wash his hands thoroughly with 

 warm water, soap and a nail brush. And as soon as the 

 milker has finished milking a cow, and poured the milk from his 

 milking pail over the cooler, he should wash his hands again before 

 milking another cow. The hands must be well dried on a clean 

 towel before milking is begun. Some 45 million bacteria were found 

 -on the hand of an ordinary farm worker about 98 per cent, of 

 "which may be removed by thorough washing with soap and warm, 

 ■water. (Storrs Exper. Station.) 



A special suit of clean, washable outer garments and a clean 

 "washable cap should be worn during milking and at no other times. 

 A costume consisting of a white duck cap, duck trousers, and khaki 

 shirt with leather belt, is satisfactory. The suit need not be steri- 

 lized, but should be washed twice a week. When not in use they 

 must be kept in a clean and airy place. If milking is done after 

 dark the barn must be well lighted or the milker must carry a 

 lantern. This is very objectionable as the lantern will soil his 

 hands with oil and germs. 



Milking ought to be performed at the same hour, morning 

 and evening. Milking must be accomplished quietly; jerking the 



