In 1890 a state agricultural bulletin told about the Babcock Test. The article ended with these words: "The test is not patented." This meant that Dr. Babcock would not make people pay for using his invention. He had given up a fortune, but he had gained fame.

Little did Dr. Babcock realize that his milk tester would some day be praised as one of the world's most important helps to man. Yet that is just what happened. Today no dairy is complete without one.