The difficult problem of seeing that perfect cleanliness is observed, both in milking and in caring for the milk, is imposed on the physician. His requirements must be strictest where milk of superior quality is to be produced in special stables and sold at a corresponding price, or where a private person wishes to secure such milk for his own use with out regard to cost. With unfailing tact, on the other hand, he must, in the beginning, insist on only the most necessary and inexpensive pre cautions in an old stable where milk of a medium quality is desired. To avoid repetition, I will state here the requirements which must be demanded in a dairy that is intended to supply milk for children: The stable must be light, well-aired, and spacious. The more large windows the better, and they must have sliding sashes. A very useful contrivance is a glass partition at the side of the salesroom, or milking room, so that the whole stable can be kept in view. The doors should be in two sections, so that the upper half, which should have a sash window, can be left open. The walls should be made of some porous material which is a urn-conductor of heat, but admits the air (e.g., wood, tuff or slag concrete, or terra cotta). They must be strong, with an air space betNyeen the outer and inner courses, and unplastered so as to remain always dry. There should be enamelled tiling or a coat of varnish for 5 or 6 feet from the floor. Ventilation outwards should be afforded by valves or tubes in the ceiling, and fresh air should be admitted as soon as t he temperature rises above 15° R. (66° F.). There is ventilation of the manger at Oud Russell], near Amsterdam. The floors should be water-proof, and covers should be provided for the open ings through which the liquid manure is drained. Near the stable should be a open space for the animals to run in. This may also be used for milking. A separate milk-room like that at Ohorn Manor, for example, is perhaps the most essential improvement.
The cow's position should be such that it can he approached either from in front or from behind. This can be effected by a passage-way between the stalls. These stalls must be made Of HMI(' waterproof material not subject to decay. and should be provided with an matic device for watering (F. Hfittenrauch, Apoldal. The stall should be so short that when the cow is lying down its hindquarters will pro ject over the manure conduit. In order to adjust it to animals of dif ferent sizes, a pole with movable cross-bars is used in fastening the cows. In Victoria Park at Berlin the cow is separated from the manger by a reversible grating, so that it must move back after feeding.
Scattering the fodder is prevented by lattices (lIfittenrauch, Apolda), or by laths diverging as they rise, through which the cow must put its head to feed.
For litter, use turf, shavings or sawdust, straw which is not too long, or straw mats (Briissel). There must be frequent cleaning of the manure conduit, which becomes clogged by the litter. The manure
should be removed either after milking or an hour before. There should he water-pipes with numerous faucets, unimpeachable water, and lavatories for the milkers. No other animals should be allowed in the stable. The health of the cows should be tested by tuberculosis inocula tion before they are admitted, and they should be regularly inspected by veterinary surgeons. From time to time, the milk should be collec tively tested for tuberculosis bacilli by the inoculation of guinea-pigs.
The cows must be curried and cleaned every day; their hair kept short and shaved on the inner side of the thigh and around the udder (Brussel). The udder protector is described by Henkel. At the Ohorn Manor, near Dresden, the cow wears an apron during the milking. This is fastened by clamps and leaves the udder free. In Victoria Park the udders are cleansed with vase line and bran. Washing the udders before milking, as is sometimes recommended, has been eommcinned as causing inflammation, and it is at best useful only when executed thoroughly with soap and plenty of water. Before milk ing the udder is usually rub bed clean with a dry or damp cloth, which is always fresh for the occasion and is carried in the milker's blouse. The tail must be tied up or washed Ivith special care. Slapping with the tail results from annoyance by flies. After the udder has been cleaned the cow is usually tied so that it can not lie down.
The milker washes his anus and hands with soap and brush, puts on his linen blouse, and arranges the milking-stool. He should not soil his hands by further contact with the hairy body of the animal. in milking, the hands should either be dry or smeared with vaseline or lard (never with milk or saliva). The lubricant should be kept in a covered metal box and after each milking it should be melted in an oven. The first spurts should he milked on to the floor, or, better still, into a special vessel. The milker should wash anew after milking each cow.
The Andersen milking-maAine is. so far, the only one that can be recommended. (Its manufacturer is Ch. Schmidt, Alt-Rahlstadt in Holstein.) Satisfactory bacteriological tests and practical experience in this regard are still lacking.
Milk into metal pails and let the cleaning, begin at once. Placing a metal sieve on the milk pail apparently is not sufficient, because the jet or milk forces the impurities through.sieve; are improved by hay jug a layer of cotton-wool, which can he thrown away every time; per haps also the pail with a washable strainer is preferable. Henkel would have the milk poured through the hygienic conveyer immediately after milking, passing through a cotton-wool filter outside the stable. A sponge saturated with is to disinfect the conveyer automatically. In any case, the milk is to be strained outside the stable and in a place free from dust, through fine wire sieves between which layers of cotton-wool have been pressed, or through filtering-fun nels (for example, the conical milk sieve).