Glass Hydrometer (Range:0-40) With Plastic Measuring Cylinder - Capacity -100 ml. A Lactometer is used to find out the amount of water in the milk that you are drinking.It works on the principle of specific gravity of milk. It works on the principle of specific gravity of milk (Archimede's Principle). It measures the relative density of milk with respect to water. If the specific gravity of a sample of milk is within the approved ranges, the milk is pure.