Hi Hugh,
Monday, January 24, 2000, 6:22:02 PM, you wrote:
HL> In fresh milk there are somatic cells--white blood cells--that
HL> keep pathogens in check.
Do you know what it is that works in colostrum?
HL> There are, of course, other bacteria in milk that are not
HL> pathogenic. The most notable are the lactobacilli. These
HL> eventually overwhelm the pathogens and destroy them, which is why
HL> before refrigeration it used to be advisable to never drink milk
HL> which had begun to sour but to wait until it was fully sour before
HL> drinking.
Milk can also rot, usually due to anaerobic conditions.
HL> Making it into cheese and aging the cheese ensured the
HL> lactobacilli overwhelmed the other bacteria, which is why there
HL> are laws in many states about the length of time cheese must be
HL> aged. In Georgia the milk commission folks told me raw milk cheese
HL> had to be aged for 6 months. In North Carolina I understand the
HL> requirement is 60 days.
In Mexico the Federal regulation requires 100 days. The law took
effect in 1988 but has not been applied to date.
HL> In humans, brucellosis, incidentally, is called undulant fever
HL> because of its habit of going away and coming back like a
HL> perpetual case of the flu. It undulates and is difficult to get
HL> rid of.
The fever makes the world appear undulating. 40 days of tetracycline
will usually do it.
HL> Some researchers claim brucellosis never occurs on pasturage where
HL> the trace mineral deficiencies of copper, cobalt, manganese and
HL> possibly zinc have been adequately addressed, and with the near
HL> universal adoption of trace mineral salt blocks for pasture
HL> animals these deficiencies are less of a concern.
We are talking about a pathogen so aggressive it can penetrate intact
skin, that is NOT ubiquitous (found free) in the environment. It
should NEVER gain entrance to anyones internal state. While
nutritional deficiencies or the lack of them may affect immune
resistance, it would be a grave error to assume that industrial
agriculture or whatever saneters don't identify with is responsible
and that natchrul living is going to solve all. I wish it were, but it
ain't that way. And remember that wild herds are often decimated by
it.
HL> So what if you know Aunt Bessie and know how rich her cultured
HL> butter tastes and know that it is a safe product?
You'd better know what controls were used and that the herd or cow
tested negative for brucella and tb, minimum.
HL> She would break the law if she sold it, and by aiding and abetting
HL> her you too would break the law.
HL> To say, " This is a democratic society. If you don't like the law,
HL> change it." is silly.
I think it's sillier to stand by and say that. If you don't control
the law, the law controls you.
HL> It takes single-minded dedication and years of work to have any
HL> effect on laws and the lone citizen is bucking the huge finances
HL> and vested interests of the dairy processing industry.
Whatever it takes. Why the copout? You have truth on your side? What
more do you need? Make it count!
HL> Our current democratic society is really a dictatorship of
HL> whatever vested interests get their candidates into office.
It's a balance of powers. Empower *your* interests. Unite with others
and broadcast your ideals. The system must be perfected.
HL> One's vote doesn't amount to a cup of thin bean soup.
Make it count.
HL> With all the laws we have it is no wonder we in the US have such a
HL> highly criminalized society and the highest per capita prison
HL> populations on earth.
It ain't perfect. Meaning it will take a little work.
HL> Shades of Nazi Germany.
No comparison.
HL> Things are bad enough already and I wouldn't want to see them get
HL> any worse.
Nothing stands still and it depends on the effort made. Make yours
count.
HL> On the other hand, I run a CSA with a 6 acre market garden and we
HL> have on the farm one of those jersey milk cows that turns hay into
HL> compost for my vegetables.
There you go. You're home free. Not bound by the above.
HL> They and I both obey the law, and I DO NOT sell any dairy
HL> products. Thankfully the law is not concerned with keeping people
HL> from eating dairy products from their own cow, and the known
HL> scientific dangers potential in consuming raw milk are avoided.
The law can be changed - it already has, but for the worse. The reason
for that can be traced to zoonosis from raw milk found in the states
that permitted the sale of it. But if the certification process was
done correctly, there'd be no reason for the milk to transmit disease.
Somebody slacked off and boom - the door was closed.
HL> All the more reason to check out the CSA concept of fresh, local,
HL> in season food supplies.
I totally agree, and that's what (and all) I eat. But I'd back down
someone who stuck a gun in my face before eating milk products again.
And local can be relative, if you're talking about city dwellers. The
conditions under which the product were grown and handled are most
meaningful in my book.
Hope this is taken constructively. The garden of Eden is yet to be
created, and call it what you will, someone will have to do it and
better know what he's doing. You know a lot but don't stop there.
DH
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