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whenever possible, and its advantages duly explained. Only
the purest milk should be taken raw, especially in summer."*
The statistical methods employed by Drs. Park and Holt,
however, are not free from objection, and the average period
of observation, about ten weeks, might with advantage have
been extended.
Milk Depôts came in for a good deal of public attention
during the year, and though meeting with general approval
they did not escape hostile criticism. Some of the objections
brought against these institutions can hardly be considered
disinterested, while some are merely pedantic, not to say
absurd, One objection, however, deserves consideration. It
is contended that when a municipality undertakes a supply of
milk, the sources of the milk should be subject to strict
supervision and control, and that none but milk of a high
degree of bacteriological purity should be used. It must be
admitted that there is much to be said for this view. It is true
that the process of sterilisation kills the bacteria, but it is better
to start operations with as few bacteria as possible, and if the
milk were of a high degree of bacteriological purity it should
be possible to dispense with sterilisation except in hot weather.
But as far as Battersea is concerned, it is incorrect to say that
the supply is uncontrolled. The contractor is bound by fairly
stringent conditions, as will appear from the following extracts
from the form of contract: —
The Contractor shall supply milk which must contain
not less than 3.25 per cent. of butter fat and 8.75 per
cent. solids not fat, and cream which must contain not
less than 50 per cent. of butter fat; and the milk and
cream must be free from chemical preservatives or
colouring matter, and be drawn from healthy cows only.
The Contractor shall deliver the milk and cream in
sealed churns or cans to the Council's Depot, No. 28 York
Road, before 8 a.m. every morning, Sunday excepted.
* "Report upon the Results with Different Kinds of Pure and Impure
Milk in Infant Feeding in Tenement Houses and Institutions of New York
City." Park and Holt, Medical News. New York, 5th December, 1903.
It has been objected, with apparent seriousness, that Municipal Milk
Depots are wrong "on the abstract principles of political economy."