UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 71, 6 October 1939, Page 5

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

THE BACTERIOLOGIST'S REPORT

The annual laboratory report of! tlic bacteriologist, Mr F. S. Hodson, showed that 25,367 milk samples were examined and 438 creams. Butter and buttermilk tests made numbered 137, water tests 63_ and miscellaneous three, a total of 2G,005. The amount of vaccine issued was 50,550 c. c,

Mr Hoclson said that tests last season in his opinion had proved the; superiority of the miseroscopie test over the Thymol Blue test I'or. mrtstilis, 'though this latter test would be useful to have nt hand for use in the shed between the monthly irucroseope chcck-up.s. This year he intended to also try the Bronx Cresol purple test which appeared to be preferred by English research workers .

He especially wished to cull attention to the herd control against masconsisting of eight touts fjom each cow at intervals of approximatcly four weeks. Test bottles were* provided and collected by cream lorry, the charge being Is i>d a cow ? including a chart which showed each cow's record and would thus be of value for culling, order of milking and perhaps breeding. Mr Hodson said the test picked mastitis in the early stages and enabled the carrier cow to be discovered. RIVER WATER. He mentioned river water, and. while not passing any opinion from ; n public health point of view, said that they always boiled it before drinking. Repeated counts for bacteria had proved the necessity for chlorinating the: water used for wash ing the butter. After speaking of 1 cream grading tests and work in this direction in the new season, lie said that in the factory stock cleaning and sterilising solutions had been instituted and periodically checked, this resulting in cconomv as well as greater efficiency. cleaning and sterilising materials were at times submitted with high claims, and these were all investigated. One remedy in particular, which was accompanied with claims for wonderful results, would have cost the com pany at least fit a day more than the present system.