Milk, a Germ Medium
Milk, because of its characteristic qualities, forms a medium in which all kinds of bacteria and germs, or low forms of life, thrive. When we consider the processes necessary to obtain the milk and deliver it to the consumer, even though the most rigid sanitary methods are observed, it can readily be seen that milk is exposed to almost all kinds of dirt and to the different forms of organisms.
It is very difficult to obtain milk in a state of purity and if germs played as important a part in the production of dis-ease as is thought by some, one of the most important articles of diet would be lost to mankind. Great quantities of these germs are ingested into the stomach of individuals who drink milk.
These bacteria are carried into the milk during milking and in the handling of the milk and the retainers. Bacteriological standards have been established, but vary a little with different authors. Usually it is agreed that certified milk should not contain more than 10,000 bacteria per cubic centimeter. Market milk should not have more than 1,000,000 bacteria per cubic centimeter in the raw state and not more than 50,000 per cubic centimeter after pasteurization.
It can be seen by this standard that even the relatively pure milk contains great numbers of bacteria and yet these bacteria are ingested into the digestive tract and no harm done. As a matter of fact, this helps to substantiate the contention of Chiropractic that these germs and the different bacteria are essential to life. There is no question, however, that poisons may be contained in milk, and when these are taken into the stomach Innate may not be able to properly adapt the tissues and thus a toxic condition will be produced.
Because of the characteristic qualities of milk, the strictest sanitary measures should be observed in all the processes involved, from the time the milk is taken from the cow until it is delivered to the customer.
Milk undergoes certain physical, chemical and biological changes as soon as it is taken from the cow: the cream rises and thus it is separated from the milk; there is also a separation of the solids from the fluids.