ILLINOIS STATE DAIRYMEN'S ASSOCIATION. 145, 



the principle features may be mentioned. The aim is always to 

 protect the milk from every form of contamination, especially 

 by germs of disease, or less dangerous ones which may cause 

 the milk to spoil or unfavorably affect it. The number of 

 bacteria found in milk which has not been carefully produced 

 and cared for is tremendous; there are frequently many millions, 

 of them in a single drop. Experiments have shown that the 

 contamination of milk occurring under ordinary circumstances, 

 can be reduced over ninety-five per cent by taking care to avoid! 

 all possible sources of impurity and conditions favoring germ- 

 growth. The fact that bacteria are usually attached to larger 

 bodies makes the work of preventing their entrance into milk 

 comparatively easy. But with all the care that it is possible to 

 observe, some bacteria will get into milk; therefore it must ba 

 cooled as soon as possible to prevent their multiplication. 



The first requisite for pure milk is a healthy herd. Sick 

 animals or those suspected of being sick, should never be allowed 

 to remain with those furnishing milk for consumption. On 

 every dairy farm there should be a proper place for keeping 

 animals that are out of condition. Model dairies have stalls in^ 

 a part of the stable separate from the main herd, or in a distant; 

 building for this purpose. I have visited large dairies where- 

 there were no such arrangements, and was told that they were 

 not needed because every animal was always in perfect health. 

 One has good reason to doubt the purity of milk from a place 

 of this kind. When a herd is known to be sound, every precau- 

 tion must be t-eken before adding new animals to it. In one 

 case, carelessness in this respect resulted in the loss of about lOO 

 cows that had been in good health until a few fresh milkers,, 

 supposed to be healthy also, but later proved to be tuberculous,, 

 were introduced into the stable. 



A cow under excitement or not in good condition is liable tO' 

 give abnormal milk, but there is little danger of a healthy, well, 

 cared for cow giving anything but a natural product. Any form 

 of excitement should be avoided and brutal treatment never 

 tolerated. An untrained dog may do great harm and should! 

 not be allowed in the pasture or barn-yard. 



