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"such as a parish or borough, with certain definite restrictions,
"viz.—that the milk must be the undiluted product of the cow,
"uncontaminated by preservatives, filtered and bottled at the
"farm or local depot, cooled down to 40° F., containing 3.0 to
"3.5 per cent. of fat and not more than 100,000 micro-organisms
"per cubic centimetre and at a price not exceeding 2d. a pint."
I think such a scheme is unpracticable. It would create
a monopoly, which sooner or later municipalities would be compelled
to purchase.
It has also been suggested that the only satisfactory
solution is that of municipalization of the milk supplies. Such
a system could only be carried out by establishing municipal
farms where the milk could be produced under scientific
conditions.
There can be no doubt of the urgent need which exists
for reform in the milk supply. Cows' milk, owing to the conditions
of civilisation has become an essential for the growth,
development and maintenance of human life. The growth of
cities forces the source of supply further and further away from
their centres, and render the supply of fresh milk more and
more difficult.
The complete control by municipalities, is, I think,
impracticable. Those who favour it, use as an argument that
municipalities have controlled water, gas, and electricity, and
therefore could control milk supply. The most superficial
consideration of the character of milk raises at once an insurmountable
barrier to the suggestion.
There are in London a few high-class dairies, the
owners of which have established model farms close to
London. The animals are carefully groomed and fed, the
milk is cooled immediately after it is obtained, to 45
degrees Fahr, and every precaution is taken to prevent