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104
MILK SUPPLY.
During the year we have been carrying out the proposals made
in last year's report in the direction of exercising control over the
milk supply.
Registration.—Under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops
Order, 1885, Clause 6, 15 milkshops have been registered, and six
have been removed from the register. The total number of milk
premises now on the register is 270. This number does not vary
much from year to year.
Inspection of Milk Premises—The inspectors have
made periodical visits to the milkshops in their districts, numbering
in all 348 visits, and have served 58 sanitary notices for defects of one
kind or another. The chief inspector and I have also paid a large
number of visits to these premises, particularly with a view to
ascertaining how far the circular of instructions, issued at the
beginning of the year, is being followed. That circular, which
appeared in my report for 1003 (page 177), laid emphasis upon the
importance of cleanliness of milkshop furniture and fittings, the
cleansing of milk vessels, the covering of milk pans, the storage of
milk, and the freedom of milk from infection. I am glad to report
that in all these respects there has been marked improvement,
though there is much yet to be done. Almost all milk-dealers in
Finsbury now cover their milk pans, and take increased precautions
as to storage. In many of the little general shops which deal in
milk there is still much dirt and mismanagement, and it is to be
feared that persons obtaining milk at these shops can not often
receive a pure and clean article. A continual and steady enforcement
of the law is, in my opinion, the effectual and equitable means
of reform.