Babcock, Stephen Moulton (1843-1931), an American agricultural chemist, devised in 1890 a test to show the amount of butterfat in milk. The market value of milk depends on its butterfat content, which is measured by the Babcock test. By adding acid to warm milk, fat is released as an oil. The fat can be separated by spinning the solution in a centrifuge. Babcock also worked out tests and methods to improve the manufacture of butter and cheese. Babcock was born on Oct. 22, 1843, in Bridgewater, New York. He graduated from Tufts College. Babcock died on July 1, 1931.
