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A study of the effect of food-stuffs on milk
76
PUBLIC
A S T U D Y OF T H E E F F E C T OF F O O D - S T U F F S ON MILK. interesting report has recently been pubA Nlished by the Edinburgh and East Scotland College of Agriculture on this subject, under the title of " O n the Effect of Heavy Root Feeding on the Yield and Composition of Milk," the authors being Alex. Lauder, D. Sc. (Lecturer on Agricultural Chemistry) and T. W. Fagan, M.A. (Assist. Lecturer and Demonstrator of Cliemistry). The experiments on which the report is based were made with a view to test the effects of rations containing large proportions of roots, and to determine whether cheaper foods (e.g. turnips) could be advantageously substituted for the more concentrated and more expensive foods usually fed to dairy stock. The experiments, which: lasted for over three years and were applied to a herd of some 7 ° shorthorn cows, were carried out in three stages, viz., in 19o 9 (20 cows), 191O-li (22 cows), and I9II-I2 (I8 cows). The animals were divided into two groups as nearly as possible identical quc~ age, period of lactation, and quality and yield of milk. After a preliminary trial of some three weeks, when all the foods to be used were given, h a l f the cows had the experimental ration, and the remainder continued on their usual (concentrated) diet. The yield of milk decreased on the experimental diet, but the the proportion of fat was increased. Experiment.
L O T I, LOT II, T u r n i p Ration. Ordinary Concntd Ration. To:al yield Average Total ylekl Average of percnge, of of percnge, of milk. butter fat. milk. butter fat. lb~, lbs. 1 5 , 2 4 o . . . 3 ' 4 9 . . . I 5 , 8 1 8 ... 3 " 0 9
I. I909--9 weeks... (I0 cows to each lot) II. ~9to-II--8 Weeks I3,92o (I i cows to each lot) III. I9II-I2--Iowks. 14,345 (9 c o w s t o e a c h l o t )
...
3'55
...
14,o69
... 3 " 3 5
...
3"68 . , ,
I5,637
.,.
3"26
The approximate differences between the two rations w e r e : - - 4 Ibs. of concentrated foods (meals and grains) with I12 lbs. of turnips to Lot I, and Io lbs. of concentrated foods and 4 ° lbs. of turnips to Lot II. Each lot received in addition 15 lbs. of hay and unmeasured amounts of straw. The proportions of albuminoid and dry matters per ration were : - Albuminoid ratio. Lot I. Lct lI. Experiment I .... ,, II .... ,, III ....
1:9"4 I : 13"5 I : 14
I: 7 I : 7 I : 7"6
... ... ...
Total D r y Matter. Lot I. Lot I I . Ibs. 27"1 26"1 29 267 28"6 26"7
It will be noticed that, while the weight of concentrated food has remained constant " throughout the experiment, the richness of the food in the turnip ration has been reduced
DECEMBER,
HEALTH.
in successive y e a r s . " The albuminoid ratio in the concentrated rations was throughout approximately I :7 - - the proportion usually recommended for dairy stock--but those in the turnip ration ranged from I:9" 4 to I : 14. The first effect of the turnip ration was to cause a rapid fall in the yield of milk, and although there was subsequently a slight recovery, the yield remained lower than that of the lot on the concentrated ration. In experiments II. and III. the rations were transferred gradually between the two lots, and the same decrease in the yield was observed. The following table comparing the amounts of fat fed to the animals and yielded by them is of considerable interest : LOT I. LOT II. TotalfatTotalfat Diff- T o t a l f a t T o t a l f a t Diffin ration i n m i l k , erence, i n r a t i o n , in milk. e r e n c e lbs. lbs. lb% lbs. lbs. lbs. Experiment ,, ,,
I. 476 ... 531... 55 . . . 3 5 9 II. 3tI ... 495.-.I84 ... 363 III. 359 ... 529...17° "" 415
... 4 8 8 . . . 1 2 9 .-. 4 7 2 . . . I o 9 "'" 5 I ° "'" 9 5
The ration with the highest proportion of fat (turnip ration, 19o9) yielded i ' i i Ibs. of butter-fat tor each pound of fat in t h e r a t i o n , that with the lowest (turnip ration, I9IO-II), 1"59. On the other hand two rations with equal proportions of fat (ordinary ration, 19o9, and turnip ration, 191 I-I2) yielded, respectively, 1"36 and 1"47 lbs. of butter-fat for each pound of fat in the ration. It has to be remembered, however, that the whole of the fat in any ration is not "digestible fat." In experiment III.. (1911-12) thedigestible fat in the turnip ration was equivalent to 17I lbs.--less than half the total fat--and that in the ordinary ration, 247 lbs. The excess fat produced and yielded in the milk weighed 358 Ibs. in the case of Lot I., and 263 lbs. in that of Lot I I . - - a result which " appears to indicate that the easily digestible carbohydrates contained in the turnips are specially suitable for fat formation." It is evident from the foregoing summary that cows can be made to produce, by suitable feeding, mitk containing a considerably larger proportion than is given by them on the ordinary food. The question which remains to be considered is one of cost. This is answered by the following Table : LOT I. LOT II. T u r n i p Ration. Ordinary Ration, Total milk. Fat Cost per Total milk, F a t Cost p e r gallons, content galton, gallons, content gallon. p e r c e n t . (pence). per cent. (pence). E x p r m t . I . 1 , 4 7 6 ... 3 " 4 9 . . . 5 ' 8 3 . . . 1 , 5 3 2 . . . 3 ' o 9 . . . 6 " o 5 ,, I I . 1 , 3 4 8 . . . 3 " 5 5 ... 6 " 4 3 . . . 1 , 3 6 2 ... 3"35 . . . 6 4 6 ,, lIl. 1 , 3 8 9 . . . 3 " 6 8 . . . 6 . 2 7 . . . 1 , 5 ~ 4 .,. 3 " 2 6 . . . 5 . 9 2
No allowa1~ce has been made for the vM~te o/the manure produced.
1912.
PUBLIC
In every case the p r o p o r t i o n of butter-fat is above the " s t a n d a r d " 3 per cent., a n d a comparison of the cost of p r o d u c t i o n calculated on milk with t h a t p r o p o r t i o n of fat is still m o r e favourable to the turnip ration. In the case of Lot I., the cost of p r o d u c t i o n of the m i l k - - o n a 3 per cent. b a s i s - - w a s 5~old., 5"4d. and 5"Id. in each successive experiment, as c o m p a r e d with 5"88d., 5"77 d. and 5'43d. in the case of Lot II. In 19o 9 ( E x p e r i m e n t I.) weekly samples of the mixed milks were analysed, and on one occasion only was the butter-fat less than 3 per cent. (it fell to 2"96 per cent.) I n t 9 m - i i E x p e r i m e n t I I . ) t h e m i l k - - a c c o r d i n g to analyses of " w e e k l y composite samples " - - n e v e r contained less t h a n 3 per cent. of fat, night and morning. In E x p e r i m e n t I I I . (1911-12) analyses were made daily, and only once did the mixed milk fall below the s t a n d a r d (containing on that occasion 2"93 per cent.). Of 3,24o samples from the individual cows included in this experiment, 357 (22 per cent.) of the m o r n i n g and 211 (13 per cent.) of the evening samples fell below the standard. T h e results of the experiments a p p e a r to point to one irrefragable conclusion, viz., t h a t the mixed milk of a herd of h e a l t h y cows should practically never contain less than the 3 peI cent. of b u t t e r - f a t - - i / t h e cows are properly fed. NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT.
ResideJ, t Medical
@ficers.--Application having been made to the Insurance Commissioners for the determination of the question whether resident medical officers employed by hospital authorities to render professional services in hospitals are required to be insured under Part I. of the National Insurance Act, a public hearing was held on October 22nd, 1912, and the Commissioners have given the following decision : T h a t resident medical officers at hospitals employed under the conditions referred to at the hearing on October 22nd, 1912 , are not employed under a contract of service within tile meaning of the National Insurance Act, and are accordingly not required to be insured thereunder, even if their rate of remuneration does not exceed in value ~ i ~ o a year. HONORARY DEGREE FOR DR. DAVIEs.--On the
occasion of the installation of Lord Haldane as Chancellor of the University of Bristol, the degree of L L . D . was conferred (honoris causd) on Dr. D. S. Davies, medical officer of health of the City of Bristol, and a past president of the Society of Medical Officers of Health.
HEALTH.
77
S A L E O F F O O D A N D D R U G S ACT : S O M E ADMINISTRATIVE D]FFICULTIES. two difficulties which militate against the T H Esuccessful suppression of adulteration and substitution more than any other are (i) the small fines which are habitually imposed, and (2) the defence of warranty. The former hampers all work under the Act, the latter is rarely encountered, except in milk cases. The following paragraphs have been put together chiefly with regard to milk, but they are capable of a much wider application. On the question of fines, it will be useful to recall the fact that in July, I9o2, a circular letter was issued by the Home Secretary to the magistrates pointing out " the injurious consequences of the adulteration of articles of f o o d . . • the large and sometimes enormous profits that accrue from the practice . . . when the penalty on detection is trifling, it not only fails to be deterrent, but may even spread the mischievous impression that the offence is venial." That it has been found necessary to issue a second letter (in January of this year), is ample evidence of the failure of the first letter to secure the desired end. In the latter letter the H o m e Secretary states, " L a t e r figures . . . demonstrate the large proportio n of cases still o c c u r r i n g . . in which penalties are imposed of such a small amount as to suggest that the offence is regarded as being of an altogether trivial character." T h e following paragraphs on " p u r e milk," selected from a pamphlet, entitled " T h e Dairy Trade in London," recently received from a responsible dairy firm, are quoted as evidence " f r o m inside " of some of the " tricks of the trade." It is doubtful whether any public official could frame a more serious indictment against unscrupulous vendors. PURE MILK, Few of the public are aware of the presen~ legal regulations and of their failure in assuring that the purchaser gets what he pays for--genuinely pure milk. At the present time a purveyor of milk can, day after day, serve his regular customers with milk and water, or separated milk--milk with all the cream extracted--added to genuine milk without fear .of conviction under the present Food Adulteration Acts. A trader, guilty of this practice, if asked by a stranger or an inspector for milk, will serve him from a can of genuine milk, which he always carries in his cart or barrow. If the inspector demanded a sample frem every vessel he had in his conveyance, which he has a perfect right to do, the vendor by immediately telling him the real quality--milk and water or milk plus separated milk--would be perfectly safe from prosecution, although the inspector was confident the man was retailing an adulterated for a genuine
PUBLIC
A S T U D Y OF T H E E F F E C T OF F O O D - S T U F F S ON MILK. interesting report has recently been pubA Nlished by the Edinburgh and East Scotland College of Agriculture on this subject, under the title of " O n the Effect of Heavy Root Feeding on the Yield and Composition of Milk," the authors being Alex. Lauder, D. Sc. (Lecturer on Agricultural Chemistry) and T. W. Fagan, M.A. (Assist. Lecturer and Demonstrator of Cliemistry). The experiments on which the report is based were made with a view to test the effects of rations containing large proportions of roots, and to determine whether cheaper foods (e.g. turnips) could be advantageously substituted for the more concentrated and more expensive foods usually fed to dairy stock. The experiments, which: lasted for over three years and were applied to a herd of some 7 ° shorthorn cows, were carried out in three stages, viz., in 19o 9 (20 cows), 191O-li (22 cows), and I9II-I2 (I8 cows). The animals were divided into two groups as nearly as possible identical quc~ age, period of lactation, and quality and yield of milk. After a preliminary trial of some three weeks, when all the foods to be used were given, h a l f the cows had the experimental ration, and the remainder continued on their usual (concentrated) diet. The yield of milk decreased on the experimental diet, but the the proportion of fat was increased. Experiment.
L O T I, LOT II, T u r n i p Ration. Ordinary Concntd Ration. To:al yield Average Total ylekl Average of percnge, of of percnge, of milk. butter fat. milk. butter fat. lb~, lbs. 1 5 , 2 4 o . . . 3 ' 4 9 . . . I 5 , 8 1 8 ... 3 " 0 9
I. I909--9 weeks... (I0 cows to each lot) II. ~9to-II--8 Weeks I3,92o (I i cows to each lot) III. I9II-I2--Iowks. 14,345 (9 c o w s t o e a c h l o t )
...
3'55
...
14,o69
... 3 " 3 5
...
3"68 . , ,
I5,637
.,.
3"26
The approximate differences between the two rations w e r e : - - 4 Ibs. of concentrated foods (meals and grains) with I12 lbs. of turnips to Lot I, and Io lbs. of concentrated foods and 4 ° lbs. of turnips to Lot II. Each lot received in addition 15 lbs. of hay and unmeasured amounts of straw. The proportions of albuminoid and dry matters per ration were : - Albuminoid ratio. Lot I. Lct lI. Experiment I .... ,, II .... ,, III ....
1:9"4 I : 13"5 I : 14
I: 7 I : 7 I : 7"6
... ... ...
Total D r y Matter. Lot I. Lot I I . Ibs. 27"1 26"1 29 267 28"6 26"7
It will be noticed that, while the weight of concentrated food has remained constant " throughout the experiment, the richness of the food in the turnip ration has been reduced
DECEMBER,
HEALTH.
in successive y e a r s . " The albuminoid ratio in the concentrated rations was throughout approximately I :7 - - the proportion usually recommended for dairy stock--but those in the turnip ration ranged from I:9" 4 to I : 14. The first effect of the turnip ration was to cause a rapid fall in the yield of milk, and although there was subsequently a slight recovery, the yield remained lower than that of the lot on the concentrated ration. In experiments II. and III. the rations were transferred gradually between the two lots, and the same decrease in the yield was observed. The following table comparing the amounts of fat fed to the animals and yielded by them is of considerable interest : LOT I. LOT II. TotalfatTotalfat Diff- T o t a l f a t T o t a l f a t Diffin ration i n m i l k , erence, i n r a t i o n , in milk. e r e n c e lbs. lbs. lb% lbs. lbs. lbs. Experiment ,, ,,
I. 476 ... 531... 55 . . . 3 5 9 II. 3tI ... 495.-.I84 ... 363 III. 359 ... 529...17° "" 415
... 4 8 8 . . . 1 2 9 .-. 4 7 2 . . . I o 9 "'" 5 I ° "'" 9 5
The ration with the highest proportion of fat (turnip ration, 19o9) yielded i ' i i Ibs. of butter-fat tor each pound of fat in t h e r a t i o n , that with the lowest (turnip ration, I9IO-II), 1"59. On the other hand two rations with equal proportions of fat (ordinary ration, 19o9, and turnip ration, 191 I-I2) yielded, respectively, 1"36 and 1"47 lbs. of butter-fat for each pound of fat in the ration. It has to be remembered, however, that the whole of the fat in any ration is not "digestible fat." In experiment III.. (1911-12) thedigestible fat in the turnip ration was equivalent to 17I lbs.--less than half the total fat--and that in the ordinary ration, 247 lbs. The excess fat produced and yielded in the milk weighed 358 Ibs. in the case of Lot I., and 263 lbs. in that of Lot I I . - - a result which " appears to indicate that the easily digestible carbohydrates contained in the turnips are specially suitable for fat formation." It is evident from the foregoing summary that cows can be made to produce, by suitable feeding, mitk containing a considerably larger proportion than is given by them on the ordinary food. The question which remains to be considered is one of cost. This is answered by the following Table : LOT I. LOT II. T u r n i p Ration. Ordinary Ration, Total milk. Fat Cost per Total milk, F a t Cost p e r gallons, content galton, gallons, content gallon. p e r c e n t . (pence). per cent. (pence). E x p r m t . I . 1 , 4 7 6 ... 3 " 4 9 . . . 5 ' 8 3 . . . 1 , 5 3 2 . . . 3 ' o 9 . . . 6 " o 5 ,, I I . 1 , 3 4 8 . . . 3 " 5 5 ... 6 " 4 3 . . . 1 , 3 6 2 ... 3"35 . . . 6 4 6 ,, lIl. 1 , 3 8 9 . . . 3 " 6 8 . . . 6 . 2 7 . . . 1 , 5 ~ 4 .,. 3 " 2 6 . . . 5 . 9 2
No allowa1~ce has been made for the vM~te o/the manure produced.
1912.
PUBLIC
In every case the p r o p o r t i o n of butter-fat is above the " s t a n d a r d " 3 per cent., a n d a comparison of the cost of p r o d u c t i o n calculated on milk with t h a t p r o p o r t i o n of fat is still m o r e favourable to the turnip ration. In the case of Lot I., the cost of p r o d u c t i o n of the m i l k - - o n a 3 per cent. b a s i s - - w a s 5~old., 5"4d. and 5"Id. in each successive experiment, as c o m p a r e d with 5"88d., 5"77 d. and 5'43d. in the case of Lot II. In 19o 9 ( E x p e r i m e n t I.) weekly samples of the mixed milks were analysed, and on one occasion only was the butter-fat less than 3 per cent. (it fell to 2"96 per cent.) I n t 9 m - i i E x p e r i m e n t I I . ) t h e m i l k - - a c c o r d i n g to analyses of " w e e k l y composite samples " - - n e v e r contained less t h a n 3 per cent. of fat, night and morning. In E x p e r i m e n t I I I . (1911-12) analyses were made daily, and only once did the mixed milk fall below the s t a n d a r d (containing on that occasion 2"93 per cent.). Of 3,24o samples from the individual cows included in this experiment, 357 (22 per cent.) of the m o r n i n g and 211 (13 per cent.) of the evening samples fell below the standard. T h e results of the experiments a p p e a r to point to one irrefragable conclusion, viz., t h a t the mixed milk of a herd of h e a l t h y cows should practically never contain less than the 3 peI cent. of b u t t e r - f a t - - i / t h e cows are properly fed. NATIONAL INSURANCE ACT.
ResideJ, t Medical
@ficers.--Application having been made to the Insurance Commissioners for the determination of the question whether resident medical officers employed by hospital authorities to render professional services in hospitals are required to be insured under Part I. of the National Insurance Act, a public hearing was held on October 22nd, 1912, and the Commissioners have given the following decision : T h a t resident medical officers at hospitals employed under the conditions referred to at the hearing on October 22nd, 1912 , are not employed under a contract of service within tile meaning of the National Insurance Act, and are accordingly not required to be insured thereunder, even if their rate of remuneration does not exceed in value ~ i ~ o a year. HONORARY DEGREE FOR DR. DAVIEs.--On the
occasion of the installation of Lord Haldane as Chancellor of the University of Bristol, the degree of L L . D . was conferred (honoris causd) on Dr. D. S. Davies, medical officer of health of the City of Bristol, and a past president of the Society of Medical Officers of Health.
HEALTH.
77
S A L E O F F O O D A N D D R U G S ACT : S O M E ADMINISTRATIVE D]FFICULTIES. two difficulties which militate against the T H Esuccessful suppression of adulteration and substitution more than any other are (i) the small fines which are habitually imposed, and (2) the defence of warranty. The former hampers all work under the Act, the latter is rarely encountered, except in milk cases. The following paragraphs have been put together chiefly with regard to milk, but they are capable of a much wider application. On the question of fines, it will be useful to recall the fact that in July, I9o2, a circular letter was issued by the Home Secretary to the magistrates pointing out " the injurious consequences of the adulteration of articles of f o o d . . • the large and sometimes enormous profits that accrue from the practice . . . when the penalty on detection is trifling, it not only fails to be deterrent, but may even spread the mischievous impression that the offence is venial." That it has been found necessary to issue a second letter (in January of this year), is ample evidence of the failure of the first letter to secure the desired end. In the latter letter the H o m e Secretary states, " L a t e r figures . . . demonstrate the large proportio n of cases still o c c u r r i n g . . in which penalties are imposed of such a small amount as to suggest that the offence is regarded as being of an altogether trivial character." T h e following paragraphs on " p u r e milk," selected from a pamphlet, entitled " T h e Dairy Trade in London," recently received from a responsible dairy firm, are quoted as evidence " f r o m inside " of some of the " tricks of the trade." It is doubtful whether any public official could frame a more serious indictment against unscrupulous vendors. PURE MILK, Few of the public are aware of the presen~ legal regulations and of their failure in assuring that the purchaser gets what he pays for--genuinely pure milk. At the present time a purveyor of milk can, day after day, serve his regular customers with milk and water, or separated milk--milk with all the cream extracted--added to genuine milk without fear .of conviction under the present Food Adulteration Acts. A trader, guilty of this practice, if asked by a stranger or an inspector for milk, will serve him from a can of genuine milk, which he always carries in his cart or barrow. If the inspector demanded a sample frem every vessel he had in his conveyance, which he has a perfect right to do, the vendor by immediately telling him the real quality--milk and water or milk plus separated milk--would be perfectly safe from prosecution, although the inspector was confident the man was retailing an adulterated for a genuine