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has been found in all, or almost all, specimens. In a
sample, purchased in the streets, some five million
microbes were found in a cubic centimetre of ice cream,
and in another sample, purchased from a high-class
confectioner, the microbes varied from eight to fourteen
millions in the cubic centimetre.
As to the ices sold in the street, and perhaps to
others, a further and more serious danger exists in the
water and cloth used in cleansing (!) the glasses used
for eating the ice. In the street barrow the same pail
of water and dirty rag may be, and often are, used
throughout the day. The small boy purchaser seems
to prefer to lick out the ice rather than use a spoon, a
method very favourable to the transference of disease.
The pail of water after a short time affords plenty of
pabulum for microbes introduced into it, and standing
in the sun the water speedily attains a temperature at
which such microbes flourish. The same may be said
of the towel or rag.
At present there is no legislation to regulate the
manufacture and sale of ices. Certain authorities
have endeavoured to apply the regulations applicable
to dairies to bear on the manufacturers, but it has been
decided that in so doing they were acting ultra vires.
Manufacturers and vendors of ices should be licensed,
and regulations are required in respect of the materials
to be used, the cleanliness of vessels, the proper storage
of the ices whilst in the course of manufacture and alter-