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93
years ago, the number of slaughter-houses in what now constitutes
the Borough was 25, so that there has been a marked and satisfactory
diminution in the number of these places.
MILK SUPPLY.
During the year we have been carrying out the proposals made
in my report for 1903 in the direction of exercising control over
the milk supply.
Registration.—Under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops
Order, 1885, Clause 6, 21 milkshops have been registered, and
29 have been removed from the register. These have been as a
rule the smallest kind of general shop, selling a few pints of milk
with every other kind of article. These places are, from a health
point of view, very objectionable, as it is well nigh impossible to
keep milk clean under such conditions. The total number of milk
premises now on the register is 262. 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 402 visits, and have served 96 sanitary notices for defects of one
kind or another. The inspectors and myself 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 1903, is being followed. That circular, which
appeared in my report for 1903 (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.