The Cell Content of Milk

Abstract

During the past few years the cell content of milk has received considerable attention. Those who first discovered the fact that milk contained cells supposed these cells were leukocytes. Whenever there is inflammation or suppuration there are always large numbers of pus cells, and according to Bergey a pus cell is simply a dead leukocyte. For the reason that leukocytes are found under inflammatory conditions it was supposed that the presence of these cells in milk indicated an inflammatory condition of the udder. While most investigators agree that some of the cells found in milk are leukocytes it is by no means certain that some of them are not epithelial cells. It was supposed that the number of cells found in milk was of prime importance in determining the presence or absence of inflammation.