View report page

One cowshed, that at 30, Great Sutton Street, has been closed
during the year by its owner. The numbers of cows in the above
table refer to the cows actually found at the last inspection, and
not to the number for which the sheds are licensed. Our inspections
have been of a systematic nature and have concerned cubic
capacity per cow, paving of shed and yard, litter, dung storage
and removal, water supply, drainage, and general sanitation. We
have also inspected the cows and the methods of milking. For the
most part the cows are shorthorns or their cross, and on my first
inspection I found very few of the 112 cows then stalled clean and
well kept. On subsequent visits, however, tilings had greatly
improved.
In August, I found at 40, Rawstorne Street a red shorthorn
dairy cow showing various symptoms of disease. I therefore
communicated with the Veterinary Surgeon of the London County
Council, with the result that the cow was at once slaughtered. It
was found to be suffering from acute dysentery and localized
tuberculosis. There was evidence to show that it had been wholly
unfit for milking purposes for several weeks.
Sampling.—Under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts 346
samples of milk have been taken. Each Inspector samples in his
own district monthly, and once a quarter takes a number of
"special'' samples in the evening and on Sundays at irregular
hours. Forty-eight of the samples of milk taken, or 13.9 per cent.,
were found to be adulterated. This shows a marked reduction in
percentage of adulteration. In 1903 the figure was 10.6, and in
1902,19.7.