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265
[1910
Cowsheds.—Owing to disuse two further licences have been allowed to lapse, one
being for premises situate at Northampton Street and the other at 108, Elmore Street.
There are now only 5 licensed cowsheds within the Borough, and in one of their number
(the largest and best equipped) no cows were kept during 10 months of the year. It would
thus appear that cowkeeping in London will soon be a thing of the past, although the
present largest cowkeeper in the Borough recently informed me that he would like to find
suitable accommodation for 40 more cows.
The existing premises have been satisfactorily conducted as a whole during the year,
when a total of 64 visits were recorded.
Offensive Trade Establishments.—Comprising 3 tripe dressers, 2 gutscrapers and 1
knacker's yard, have received a total of 96 visits, during which they have proved to be
carried on in a fairly satisfactory manner, and although some complaints were lodged here
regarding offensive smells in the neighbourhood of York Road and Pleasant Grove (four of
the trades concerned being carried on in that locality) since you made a representation to
the Borough Engineer on the subject, which resulted in improved street gullies, additional
sewer ventilation and closed sewer manhole covers, I am pleased to say the complaints have
entirely ceased.
I am, Sir,
Yours obediently,
H. WILKINSON,
Meat Inspector, etc.
Milkshops and Dairies.—At the end of the year 565 milkshops were
on the register, and to them 2,113 visits were paid by the district inspectors.
The Chief Inspector, Mr. J. R. Leggatt, also visited them, while the Medical
Officer of Health also inspected a considerable number. A serious question
arose towards the end of the year as to whether power was given by section
5 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1908, to Metropolitan
Sanitary Authorities to remove from the register or to refuse to register premises
for the sale of milk where the articles sold in the shops were likely to contaminate
the milk. The matter was therefore carefully considered by the
Medical Officer of Health, the Council's Solicitor and the Public Health Committee,
with the result that it was found that no such powers were given,
notwithstanding the fact that several successful prosecutions had been undertaken
in other parts of London.
There can be no doubt that the intention of the London County Council,
when drawing the clause, was to give these powers to the Metropolitan Sanitary
Authorities, but when it became necessary to study the section, in view of
proceedings which the Medical Officer of Health had in view, it became apparent
on close scrutiny that these were not conferred. The position will be best
seen from the following report presented by the Medical .Officer of Health
to the Public Health Committee:—