
REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR. II 
BACTERIOLOGY OF DAIRY PRODUCTS. 
The work upon the bacteria of milk and butter has been con- 
tinued during the year by Professor Conn and his assistant, 
Mr. Esten. The important subject of cream ripening contin- 
ues to occupy attention. The especial object of the experl- 
mental work of the last two years has been to get light upon 
the kinds of bacteria that are common in Connecticut dairies, 
their sources, and the influence that they exert upon butter 
when they get into the cream and grow during the ripening 
process. At the same time a large number of special studies 
of individual species of bacteria are being carried out by the 
ordinary experimental methods. With the rest, the study of 
Bacillus acid? lactici has been continued by Mr. Esten. A part 
of the experimental work, however, has been temporarily inter- 
rupted during the year by the absence of Prof. Conn, who is 
spending the year in Europe. He is not only giving especial 
attention to bacteriological studies in university laboratories, 
but is also visiting a number of countries where dairying is 
particularly well developed, and is improving the opportunity 
there offered for learning the results of the latest investigation 
and experience regarding the action of bacteria in milk, butter, 
and cheese, and also regarding the important question of tuber- 
culosis in milk. With the rest he has visited large establish- 
ments in Holland, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, and has 
seen the workings of a number of leading creameries and dairies, 
and studied the methods in actual operation. He has naturally 
devoted careful attention to the methods for prevention of 
tuberculosis in cattle, and of securing milk free from tuber- 
culous organisms. In so doing he has examined establishments 
where milk is pasteurized, so as to furnish it to consumers free 
from danger of distributing disease. The fact that no details 
regarding investigations upon dairy bacteriology and kindred 
subjects are contained in the present Report is explained in 
part by the large amount of other material which demanded 
publication and in part by the absence of Prof. Conn. It is 
hoped, however, that a succeeding report may contain much 
interesting matter upon this subject. 
t 
; TUBERCULOSIS. 
Four cows, condemned by the State Commission on Diseases 
of Domestic Animals in the fall of 1896, were at that time 
