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117
The Committee supervised all the details of arrangement for
the Dep6t and execution of the same, and it is desirable to incorporate
in the present report the main facts concerning the
methods adopted.
Preparation of the Milk.—By the kind offices of J. Carson, Esq.,
of Theydon Bois, the milk used at the Depot is obtained from his
farm in Essex and modified according to our prescription at the
farm immediately after milking.
The Committee at the outset decided first, that it is of primary
importance that the milk itself should be absolutely pure before
modification, and secondly, that any modification should be carried
out immediately after milking and at the farm. We feel strongly
that clean and healthy methods of dairying are of vital importance,
and that it is undesirable to use milk at an Infants' Depot which
is either unclean or has been long on the railway before treatment.
The Committee therefore feel that one of the essential requirements
is proper dairying.
The cows used by Mr. Carson, which consist of a herd of about
60, are carefully selected for milking purposes, are regularly
inspected, and have all passed the tuberculin test. Their feeding
also is kept under strict control, no brewers' grains being used. I11
summer the cows feed on grass, linseed oil cake, and a small quantity
of cotton seed cake and bran ; in winter they have hay, mangolds,
maize, germ meal, and linseed and cotton seed cake. The farm
is extremely well kept, and maintained under strict sanitary control,
the health and cleanliness of the cows being the one thing aimed at.
Probably the conditions obtaining at the farm are unsurpassed
in England for excellence.
The cows are milked in the byre adjoining the sterilising plant.
Both cowsheds and cows are continually maintained in cleanliness,
the former being large, light and well ventilated. The floors are
concreted. The udders of the cows are cleaned before milking, and
it is required that milkers also shall be clean in person and
management of milking. Clean white overalls are used by the
men. All utensils, cans, churns, &c., are kept scrupulously clean
and are sterilised regularly by steam. Immediately after milking,