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No action was taken. Nevertheless, the necessity for regulation of the premises, where food
of a perishable nature is handled, or prepared for sale, and the conduct of the business, is now
generally recognised.
The subject is so important that it may not be out of place here, to give a resume of
legislation with regard to it.
The first by-laws dealing with the matter were framed by the late Metropolitan Board of
Works, under the provisions of the Slaughter-houses (Metropolis) Act, 1874, in the year 1875.*
This Act was repealed by the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, but provision was made for the
continuance of the by-laws then in force, and no one questions the benefit that has accrued from
their operation.
A more germane illustration of the value of by-laws for the purpose, may be found in
connection with the question of milk supply, to which I drew attention in a paper read before the
Society of Medical Officers of Health in 1875. To that paper was appended a code of by-laws with
respect to Cow-sheds, Dairies, etc., which the Council of the Society reported to be," with some
slight alterations, suitable for the purpose."† The Society, "recognizing in the proposed by-laws a
desirable standard of requirements," sent them to the President of the Local Government Board,
who, when acknowledging the Society's communication, renewed the promise of "best attention"
to the subject, which he had made when acknowledging the receipt of my paper. It was confidently
expected that legislation would speedily follow, but it was not until 1878 that, by the
Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, power was given to the Privy Council to make Orders for various
purposes; e.g., for the registration of persons carrying on the trade of Dairyman ; for prescribing
and regulating the lighting, ventilation, cleansing, drainage and water supply of dairies; for securing
the cleanliness of premises and vessels; for prescribing precautions to be taken for protecting milk
against infection or contamination, and for authorising a local authority to make regulations for the
purposes aforesaid, or any of them, subject to such conditions, if any, as the Privy Council should
prescribe. The powers of the Privy Council in this respect were subsequently transferred to the
Local Government Board. The "local authority" under the Act was the Metropolitan Board of
Works, and, subsequently, until 1900, the London County Council, whose powers as to enforcing
by-laws relating to dairies, etc., were transferred to the Sanitary Authorities by the London
Government Act, 1899.
The first Dairies Order, made in 1879, was rescinded when that of 1885, now in force, was
issued. This Order provided for the registration of dairymen and other persons carrying on the trade
of cow-keepers, dairymen or purveyors of milk, prescribed requirements relating to the sanitary
state of dairies and cowsheds, and to contamination of milk, and authorised the local authority to
make regulations against the infection and contamination of milk. With respect to "infection," it
will suffice to say that any person suffering from a " dangerous infectious disease, or having recently
been in contact with a person so suffering," is forbidden, by Section 9, to "milk cows or handle
vessels used for containing milk for sale, or in any way to take part or assist in the conduct of the
trade or business of the cowkeeper or dairyman, purveyor of milk or occupier of a milk store or
milk shop, so far as regards the production, distribution or storage of milk; or, if himself so
suffering, or having recently been in contact as aforesaid, to do any of the aforesaid acts until, in each
case, all danger therefrom of the communication of infection to the milk, or of its contamination, has
ceased." The "regulations" made under the Order deal with the lighting, ventilation, cleansing,
drainage and water supply of dairies and cowsheds in the occupation of persons following the trade
of cowkeepers and dairymen.
An effort made by the County Council in the session of 1902 to promote legislation for the
further protection of the milk supply from contamination was not successful; but though the milk
clauses (in Part VIII. of their General Powers Bill) failed to pass, Part IX. dealing with "Ice
Creams" was more successful, and the provisions of the Part, which apply to all persons being
manufacturers of, or merchants, or dealers in ice creams, or other similar commodity, are now in
operation. ‡
* The late Vestry, on the recommendation of the Sanitary Committee, had adopted, in 1874, certain conditions
formulated by myself, as being "essential in order to fit a slaughter-house for the business," and decided to oppose, and did
successfully oppose, the renewal of the license in every case where the premises did not come up to the standard; the
Conditions" (set out in the Annual Report for 1874, page 34) having been accepted as reasonable and proper by the licensing
justices.
† The by-laws as adopted by the Society were printed in my Annual Report for 1875, page 41
‡ The provisions of the Part were printed in my annual report for 1902, page 60