The Milker's Hands

Horowhenua Chronicle, 23 August 1916, Page 2

The Milker's Hands

M'any dairy folk in most districts suffer from .sore hands, brought on by milking. .'Hid allowed to become worse by want of eare. The New .South AYaks Health Department .at the liesliest of the Agricultural Department has made the following sugestions -or prevention and cure:The conditions described, especially when occurring in cold, wintry weather, probably are due to the .fact that the hands do not get an opportunity of becoming properly dry. Hot water aiwavs should be ut-ed in cold weather for washing the hands preparatory to milking, and a good quality of soap should bo used — preferably one of the good coal-tar makes. After washing, the hands should be thoroughly dried, and as towels oft op do this very imperfectly. nibbing them in bran will do so more satisfactorily. A "bran tub'' thus may have a very valuable u.se. Finally, rubbing the hands with vaseline when milking is over will further lend to protect them. Should the hands become chapped, and especially should there be amy secretion of pus, it is strongly advisable that the milker should desist Troni milking until the hands become normal again otherwise the condition will become aggra- | vnted by milking: also the pus present will be likely to get into the milk and contaminate it. j