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repeatedly had the milk of the particular farmer analysed, and always found it to be
pure, and they had a warranty with each delivery. In addition to the merits of the
case, their solicitor submitted that the summons must be dismissed on several points of
law, and in particular because the proceedings were not taken within six months from
the date of the warranty as decided recently in a case at the High Court. The Magistrate
felt bound by this decision, and dismissed the summons against the Dairy Company,
but refused costs.
It will be seen that in the first case, although the abstraction of cream was proved,
and all the parties responsible were summoned, the prosecution was futile, and
apparently, if the warrantor and warrantee stand together, and their defence is properly
handled there is not much prospect of getting a conviction. In the second case the
aspect is much worse, because as the law stands at present, a person has only got to
give a warranty and let 6 months elapse, when he will be able to sell adulterated milk
with impunity so long as he and the retailer are prepared to stand together, because
the retailer could prove the warranty and the wholesale dealer plead the 6 months limit.
In addition to this difficulty there is also another serious drawback, because no provision
is made in the Sale of Food and Drugs Act for taking proceedings where there
are successive warranties unless such proceedings are taken in the district where the
successive warranties are given. We recommend —
(a) That the attention of the Local Government Board he called to the difficult and anomalous
position of local authorities in regard to the use or abuse of warranties, and that the Board be urged
to promote legislation to put the law in a clear and more equitable position.
( h) That the question of the other Metropolian Borough Councils' be called to this matter, and
that they be asked to support the action above mentioned.
I trust the Local Government Board will see their way soon to introduce legislation in
order to do away with this difficulty.
Collection of Dust.
House dust is collected bi-weekly in Bermondsey, the Council supplying dust pails of
about two cubic feet capacity. This system was introduced in 1889 by the present Chief Sanitary
Inspector, who organised and had complete control of it until the formation of the Borough. It is
now carried out on the same lines, but is under the control of the Surveyor's department.
Trade refuse is removed as requested at 7s. 6d. per load.
The following figures give the amount destroyed in the destructor, and the amount
barged away during the year ended March 31st, 1904 : —
House Refuse.
Loads.
Tons.
cwt.
qrs.
12,582
4
2
Bermondsey Destructor
6,858
2,689½
5,230
Rotberhithe Destructor
7
2
3
212
419
3
Bermondsey Wharf
Rotherhithe Wharf
348
718
18
3
10,107½
18,950
14
2
Total House Refuse
Trade Refuse.
Loads.
Tons.
cwt.
qrs.
11
Bermondsey Destructor
304
558
3
Bermondsey Wharf
1,520
2,792
19
2
1
1,824
3,351
11
It is the custom to dispose of the dry refuse in the destructor, and refuse such as tinned
foods, etc., which is damp, is barged away per contract.
Bacteriological Laboratory.
The Bacteriological Laboratory still continues to do good work. The total number of
specimens examined during the year, as the accompanying table shows, was 485 against 522
in the previous year.
The diminution is entirely due to the lessened prevalence of diphtheria. As anticipated,
there was a great rise in the number of specimens for tubercle bacilli, owing to the voluntary
notification of phthisis, the number for 1903 being 134 against 67 during the previous year.
Result of Examination.
Nature of Specimen.
Number Examined.
Positive Result.
Negative Result.
Diphtheria (specimens taken by the
Medical Officer of Health
193
20
173
Ditto (taken by private practitioners)
110
22
88
Diphtheria (total specimens taken)
303
42
261
41
93
Tubercle
134
Enteric
43
9
34
Various
5
2
3
Total specimens examined
391
94
485