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48
and Milkshops Orders of 1885 and 1886, i.e., made nearly 20
years ago, and which are not up to modern requirements, nor in
accordance with the scientific knowledge of to-day.
The 1885 and 1886 Orders were made by the Privy Council
under Section 34 of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act,
1878, and were carried out, in the Metropolis, by the old
Metropolitan Board of Works and their successors—the present
London County Council, until the London Government Act, 1899,
transferred from the London County Council to the Borough
Councils the registration of dairymen and the administration of
the Bye-laws and regulations for the time being in force with
respect to dairies and milk. The only regulations to be
administered are those made 20 years ago (i.e., in 1885) under
Article 13 of the 1885 Order of the old Metropolitan Board of
Works. The annual licensing of Metropolitan cowsheds still
rests with the London County Council, but, apart from this,
practically the whole of the supervision of the milk trade is now
in the hands of the Borough Councils—the Lambeth Borough
Council, as far as Lambeth Borough is concerned. The London
County Council has at present only power to act in default of a
Borough Council. The Bofough Councils must do their duty.
The Lambeth cowsheds (20 in number) are under careful inspection,
and kept up to sanitary standard, but the small amount
of milk (obtained therefrom) consumed within the Borough,
may, for all practical purposes, be neglected in connection with
this Report.
(b). Transit of Milk by Rail to Towns.
The existing conditions as to transit of milk by Rail are anything
but satisfactory. Proper and suitable milk-vans (ventilated,
cool, etc.) are required, and greater quickness of transit most
desirable. All churns should be locked or sealed. Heat, motion,
and lost time in transit are the three factors that act deleteriously
upon the milk, causing a great increase in the number of bacilli
found therein, so that any means that can be adopted to lessen
such injurious effects are of the greatest importance, and should
be encouraged (e.g., straining, cooling and protecting th3 milk).
(c). Wholesale Dealers or Contractors.
When milk is received from the country by the wholesale
dealers in London, great care in handling is necessary, as also in
storage, so as to protect the milk, as far as possible, from contamination
by dust and dirt, the sun and motion. Quickness in
delivery to the retailers is most important.