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They said further, that—
"Some of the special acts referred to contain other provisions which would be useful in this
connection. Thus, the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order of 1899, which is in London
enforced by the County Council, makes it illegal to sell milk from a cow having a tubercular
udder, only after that disease has been certified by a veterinary surgeon. In Manchester,
however, a dairyman is liable to a penalty if he knowingly sells milk from a cow which is
suffering from this disease, and if he does not properly isolate such cow, irrespective of
whether the disease has been certified. Further, dairymen are required under the Manchester
Act to notify to the medical officer of health any cow affected with, or suspected of,
or exhibiting signs of, tuberculosis of the udder."
The Committee expressed the opinion that—
"In connection with the administration of the Dailies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order of 1899,
in London, additional power is needed by the Council; viz., that of seizing cows which the
veterinary inspector is of opinion are suffering from tubercular disease of the udder, and of
requiring such cows to be at once slaughtered.''
The Royal Commission on tuberculosis recommended that if the veterinary surgeon's
opinion proved to be incorrect the owner should receive the full value of the animal, but only
the value of the carcase if the opinion proved to be correct, and the Committee concurred in this
view.
The need for legislation being recognised, the Committee observed that the question
would have to be carefully considered, "whether any or all of the powers desired can be obtained
by a clause in one of the Council's Bills, or whether a Public Bill would be necessary to give
effect to any or all of the Committee's proposals?" and they concluded as follows—
"The matter is, in our opinion, one of great moment as affecting the health of the consumers of
milk in London, and in which it is desirable to proceed without delay. It is necessary under
the standing order for proposals for legislation next session to be brought before the Council
at its first meeting in June. We accordingly now submit our proposals, but we have not
yet had time to consult the Borough Councils with regard to them. We hope to enlist the
sympathy and support of these bodies, and accordingly suggest that a copy of this report
be sent to each, with an intimation that any suggestions they may make will be considered.
We recommend—
"(a) That the Parliamentary Committee be instructed to seek legislation in the next
session of Parliament to give effect to the proposals contained in the foregoing report;
"(6) That a copy of this report be sent to each of the Metropolitan Borough Councils, with
an intimation that any suggestion they may make thereon will receive consideration."
Both of the reports of the Committee were adopted by the County Council. The matters
dealt with in them are of such high importance from the public health point of view, that I felt
it my duty to set them out fully for the information of the Council. They affect all parts of the
metropolis equally; it is obviously desirable, therefore, that the proceedings to obtain legislation
should be undertaken by the County Council who have jurisdiction in the County of London,
as a whole. So far as I am able to form an opinion, the proposals of the Council are adequate
and reasonable; and in principle they have already received the sanction of Parliament in Bills
promoted by sundry provincial municipalities.
Ice Creams.—The Public Health Committee of the County Council also had under consideration
the question whether it is desirable to promote legislation to secure further powers
in regard to the preparation for sale of ice creams in London, outbreaks of infectious disease
(notably at Deptford in 1891) having been caused by the consumption of this commodity, the
preparation of which is almost a speciality of Italians. References to the subject will be found
in my annual report for 1894, page 173 ("Ice Creams"), and page 176 ("The Ice Harvest").
The Glasgow Corporation, in 1895 obtained power to extend to ice creams the provisions of the
Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order relating to milk; and in 1898 Liverpool, which had
had experience, in 1897, of the spread of enteric fever by ice cream (much in the same way as
occurred at Deptford), obtained the sanction of Parliament to the inclusion in the Liverpool
Corporation Act, of 1898, of provisions, designed to prevent contamination in the nanufacture,
sale, or storage of the commodity, as follows—
(1) Any person being a manufacturer of, or merchant, or dealer in ice-creams or other similar
commodity, who within the city—
(a) Causes or permits ice-cream or any similar commodity to be manufactured, sold, or
stored in any cellar or room in which there is an inlet or opening to a drain; or
(b) In the manufacture, sale, or storage of any such commodity, does any act or thing
likely to expose such commodity to infection or contamination, or omits to take any
proper precaution for the due protection of such commodity from infection or
contamination; or
(c) Omits on the outbreak of any infectious or contagious disease amongst the persons
employed in his business to give notice thereof to the medical officer of health for the
City-
shall be liable for every such offence, on summary conviction, to a penalty not exceeding forty
shillings.