1908.] 



Contamination of Milk. 



37i 



Orr, M.B., B.Sc, of Glasgow University, as bacteriologist, and 

 his report on the examination of the samples, with particulars 

 of the various experiments carried out by him, has now been 

 published, together with the report of the Joint Committee.* 



The investigation showed that serious contamination, which 

 is to a great extent of a preventable nature, does take place. 

 The greatest amount of contamination occurs at the cow-shed, 

 and is largely attributable to the dirty condition of the cows' 

 udders, and the imperfect cleansing of the cans. The extent 

 to which bacteria, present in the milk as it leaves the cow-shed, 

 multiply before the milk is consumed is mainly a question of 

 the temperature at which the milk is kept and the time that 

 elapses before consumption. Contamination during railway 

 transit, however, is considered to be practically avoidable if 

 the milk cans are locked and provided with dust-proof lids, 

 and the practice of pouring the milk from one can to another 

 in the dusty atmosphere of the railway station is avoided. 

 Additional contamination arises from exposure to dust in 

 the retail shop, during delivery, or in the consumer's house, 

 and from badly cleaned retailers' cans or consumers' vessels. 



The Committee draw special attention to the experiments 

 of Dr. Orr with regard to the washing of cows' udders, and also 

 to that part of the report which deals with the conveyance of 

 milk in vessels which are not ventilated. 



They point out that there is a widespread opinion in the 

 country that it is a dangerous thing to wash a cow's udder, 

 and that milk will not keep except in a ventilated vessel. The 

 experiments systematically conducted by Dr. Orr for a period 

 of about six months indicate that a cow's udder can be washed 

 with saiety, and that one of the greatest sources of contamina- 

 tion of milk at the farm can thus be successfully combated. 

 If it can be shown that milk will keep in vessels which are not 

 exposed to the air by means of ventilating openings, a fruitful 

 source of railway contamination can be dealt with satisfactorily, 

 and a common excuse for the exposure by the retailer or con- 

 sumer of milk in an uncovered bowl will be disposed of. 



The points to which the Committee draw attention are as 

 follows : — 



* Copies of the Report, price 2s. 6d., can be obtained from the Clerk of the 

 Council, County Hall, Beverley. 



2 A 2 



