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guarantee this milk," or something to a like effect. The law
protects him although he has the above legends on all his cans
and barrows. In one case the words used to the agent by a
worthy tradesman, who rushed into the shop when he saw the
Inspector from his side window, was, "There is a little something
in that." No explanation as to what the little something was, it
might have been a little particle of dust, or what not; but when a
summons issued came on for hearing, the Court held that it was
quite sufficient notice to cover a fairly large addition of water to
the milk. Another escaped by saying just in time, "This is
country milk, I cannot guarantee it." Another trick of this trade
is to carry a small can of pure milk to serve any one from who
looks like an Inspector or his agent, and to serve all known
customers from the larger vessel on the barrow, which of course
contains the special " home made " brand of milk.
In many shops two milk pans are used in a similar way, one
being placed underneath the counter. There are, of course, many
honourable exceptions, but this scandal is aggravated by the fact
that the honest dealer has to compete with these tricksters.
Condensed, " skimmed " or " separated " milk is still allowed to
be sold in this country, and is largely used as the "food''
of poor children. It is quite useless as a nourishing agent, and
in hundreds of cases absolutely injurious. Many Medical Officers
have for several years past made reports on the seriousness of this
matter, but with no effect. In countries where they have a
practical legislature the sale of this stuff is prohibited. We
import it and the heavy infantile death rate continues.
MUNICIPAL MILK
It is nothing short of deplorable that the efforts made by some of
the Borough Councils, notably Battersea, to deal with this question
effectually should have been frustrated by the intervention of the
Government Auditor who has disallowed the cost of establishing
depots for the sale of milk for infants and invalids. The ground
of objection is, as I understand it, that it is not the duty of a Health