320 
ON THE MILK OF THE COW. 
Morning. Evening. 
Sp. gr. 1031. Sp. gr. 1031. 
Water. 84-54 82-40 
Dry,. 15-46 17-60 
Casein,. 5-91 7-36 
Butter, . 6*87 7-40 
Sugar,. 2-70 2-85 
The quantity given in the morning is greater, and the interval which elapsed between the 
milkings greater. It is possible the first secretion is richer than the last. I am certain only in 
the results obtained ; the reasons for those results are not well determined. The animal had 
been fed upon brewers’ grains. 
One object I had in taking up the investigation, was to determine the effect of brewers’ 
grains on the composition of milk. The common opinion is that this food conduces to the 
secretion of milk, but that the milk is poor and watery : this was my own opinion. There is 
an opinion, which is undoubtedly true, that much of the milk which is sold by the milk men of 
our large cities is inferior to the ordinary milk of the country—observation proves this. But 
the inferior quality of the milk may be due to two or more causes. The food may be too 
watery, and in a condition to injure the general health of the animal, or the confinement in 
stables, together with the food, may conjointly act to bring about an imperfect action of the 
milk gland, the result of which may be the secretion of milk poor in butter and cheese. Exer¬ 
cise in the open air is as necessary, if not more so, to the cow as to the human family. Slops 
never injure cows, unless they are confined to them, and also confined to the stable. For their 
health, too, it is necessary that they should be supplied with food which requires mastication. 
Strong pressure upon the teeth is necessary to preserve them in a healthy state : their looseness 
when fed on slops is due, in a great and important degree, to inaction. There is wanting the 
stimulus of use and exercise to the jaws, as well as the legs of the animal, and this stimulus is 
necessary to preserve the balance of the system, and maintain a due degree of health. I have 
said that slops are not injurious, in themselves. This statement is verified by the fact that 
small families who keep a single cow and feed her upon refuse matters from the kitchen, is 
always in a good and healthy condition, and gives excellent milk, as well as large quantities 
of it, for in this case she is allowed to run and roam at large, and enjoys the luxury of air and 
exercise. But reverse the circumstances, confine the same cow to the close stable, but feed her 
in the same way, or feed her upon soft food, that which does not require mastication, and she 
soon loses her health, her teeth will fall out, and she will become diseased in her hoofs. 
The effect of feeding a cow on grains for one week may be seen in the following analysis : 
Water,. 82-40 
Dry matter,. 17-60 
Casein,. 7-37 
Butter,. 7-40 
Sugar,. 2-85 
