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44
DAIRIES, COWSHEDS & MILK-SHOPS.
There are 18 cowsheds with 119 cows, and 82 dairies and milkshops
in the district. These are subjected to fortnightly inspection as far
as practicable, but the condition of some of them is not very
satisfactory.
The importance to be attached to clean and tubercle-free milk
in connection with the questions of infantile mortality and tuberculosis
cannot be over-estimated. There is little doubt that the deaths
of many infants during hot weather is due to the excessive
multiplication in the milk of filth bacteria, carried to it by flies,
dust, etc. The work of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis
has shewn that cows suffering from this disease can communicate it
to man through the milk supply. A Pure Milk Bill is urgently
required, and steps should be taken for the eradication of tuberculosis
from herds of cattle. This latter would be expensive, but as it
is certain that it would save many human lives, and especially
the lives of children dependent on milk for their food, the benefits
accruing would, in my opinion, much outweigh the cost.
SLAUGHTER HOUSES.
There are 11 slaughter-houses in the district, three of which
are licensed and the rest registered.
The Inspector of Nuisances acts as Meat Inspector, but
holds no certificate in meat inspection. One of the Assistant
Inspectors possesses the required qnalification, but has no status
under the Public Health Act to seize meat. In a wide district
like this with a number of slaughter-houses to supervise, in all
of which killing takes place on Thursdays, it is impossible for one
man to cover the ground. The Council requires power to appoint
more than one Inspector of Nuisances, i.e., to convert its Assistant
Inspectors into Inspectors with statutory powers, in order that meat
inspection may be thoroughly carried out in this district in the
interests of public health. 486 visits were made to slaughter-houses
during the year, or about 44 to each slaughter-house.
No carcases or parts of carcases were found to be tuberculous.