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23
get thoroughly oxydized before reaching the filter beds, and
bacteria cannot be entirely removed by the filtration methods at
the disposal of the Water Companies.
Let us hope that, when the newly constituted Water Board
gets control of the supplies, the inhabitants of London will
receive an entirely germ-free water for drinking purposes; but
we must expect to pay heavily for this privilege. It is wasteful
to use a high-class, and consequently expensive, drinking water
for domestic and trade purposes; but I am afraid the difficulties
in the way of a dual supply are insuperable.
But important as is a pure water supply, clean milk is still
more desirable, for it forms or should form the staple food of
young children and hand-fed infants. In the report of the Chief
Inspector, page 19, attention is drawn to the fact that the retail
milk trade in Bethnal Green is being increasingly invaded by
aliens; Mr. Foot is strongly of opinion that the by-laws now in
force for the regulation of dairies are utterly inadequate.
Inspector Bare reports that many of the Yiddish milk-sellers are
unclean in their habits, their premises dirty and neglected, and
their utensils sour and filthy. Milk stored under such conditions
rapidly ferments and generates bacteria, and children who are
fed upon it get diarrhoea. I have no doubt that such milk is a
considerable factor in the causation of our increased mortality
from diarrhœal diseases.
MEASLES.
Deaths 85 (Decennial average 103).
The eighty-five deaths from measles, though exceeding the
number registered in 1902, were below the decennial average,
which was 103. All the deaths except one were amongst young
children aged less than five years. The child mortality from
measles is in the proportion of 4.7 on the estimated population of
young children. From time to time representations have been
made by the London School Board, urging the County Council