MILK INSPECTION -229 



■ispects the buildings, their location, and sanitary condition. He also 

 -observes the hygienic methods employed in the production and hand- 

 ling of the milk, and physically examines the cows in the herd. 



If it is financially possible a physician should visit a farm supply- 

 ing certified milk at weekly intervals. Postal cards should be supplied 

 the farm superintendent, on which he should report the existence of any 

 illness (including sore throat) on the premises. The physician should 

 inspect to determine the presence of any illness among the employees 

 or their families and especially as to the existence of scarlatina, diph- 

 theria, typhoid fever, consumption and skin diseases. The general 

 hygienic condition of the employees, premises and quality of the water 

 supply should be reported. The precise number of employees must be 

 ascertained and cases of recent illnesses investigated. 



Veterinary inspection should be made with particular reference to 

 bovine infections which may be communicated to man in milk. 1. 

 Such general infections of cattle include — tuberculosis, cowpox, tet- 

 anus, anthrax, foot and mouth disease, black quarter, rabies, trembles, 

 contagious pleuro-pneumonia and actinomycosis. - It is somewhat doubt- 

 ful whether the latter can be conveyed to man by milk. 2. Infections 

 of the digestive tract in which germs in the feces are likely to contam- 

 inate milk. These include enteritis, dysentery and calf cholera. Milk 

 from cows suffering from digestive disturbances is unfit for use, since 

 it may contain deleterious chemical bodies. 3. Mastitis of various 

 .sources, as that due to tubercle and colon bacilli, streptococci and 

 staphylococci, B. necrophorous and actinomycosis. 4. Local infections 

 ^elsewhere, as septic metritis, abscesses, suppurating wounds and nec- 

 rosis. 5. Any acute disease in which toxins and perhaps micro-organ- 

 isms may escape in the milk. 



In a general way it may then be said that bacteriological examina- 

 tions of certified milk should be made weekly, chemical examinations 

 and veterinary inspections monthly, and medical inspections weekly 

 •or as circumstances may require. 



This examination also includes the application of the tuberculin 

 test. These inspections are subsequently made at frequent intervals 

 .■and reports are made to the commission, the following being a con- 

 venient form in use at Cleveland and other places : 



