91. A Statistical Examination of the Interrelationship and Variability of Plate Count, Presumptive Coliform Content and Keeping Quality of Raw Milk

Abstract

The writer seeks to establish the interrelationship and variability of the three tests used for gauging the hygienic quality of milk, plate count, coliform content and keeping quality. Keeping quality is denned, and after discussing previous work and source of material, and noting the technique followed, the method of classification is described. Plate count and coliform content are treated logarithmically. Treatment of keeping-quality results presents especial difficulties, and the test is described in detail to disclose these, and reasons given for tabulating by half-days. The relationship between plate count and keeping quality is linear, but non-linearity occurs in those relationships which concern coliform content. This is because the first group “absent from 1 ml.” is not truly a definite class, but contains samples of superior quality. It is shown that an increase of one “stage” of coliform contamination reduces the average keeping quality as much as an increase of 0–54 in the logarithm of the plate count (approximately seven times). Variability of each term is discussed. The standard deviation of keeping quality is of the order of 1 half-day, that of logarithm of plate count is 0·77 and that of logarithm of coliform content in excess of unity. These variabilities are too great to permit of reasonable forecast of one term from the other two.