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49
MUNICIPAL MILK DEPOTS.
There appears to be a growing feeling that municipal authorities should possess discretionary
power to establish depots for the sale of pure milk—whether sterilised and "humanised" or not—for
the food of babies, with the view of reducing the rate of infantile mortality which is a standing
opprobrium and a danger to the community in these days of a constantly declining birth-rate. The
subject was dealt with in the tenth monthly report, 1902, which was referred by the Council
to the Public Health Committee who, after giving the matter careful consideration, reported as
follows:—
"We are of opinion that it would be a desirable thing to establish in the Borough a
municipal supply of sterilised and humanised milk for the feeding of children of the poorer
classes, in the hope that it might tend to the diminution of the excessive mortality which
does, without doubt, exist in a certain portion of North Kensington.
"We recommend—
"That the Council do endorse the opinion above expressed, and that it be referred back to the
Committee to consider and report as to what steps should be taken to give effect to the proposal."
The report was not adopted.
In the first monthly report, 1904, the subject was again adverted to in connexion with
remarks on infantile diarrhceal mortality, and on the ground that it is practically impossible for
poor people to obtain, from existing sources, a regular supply of pure milk for the sustenance of their
bottle-fed babies. Liquid milk, it was said, under ordinary circumstances, furnishes an admirable
medium for the growth of bacteria, which multiply in it with amazing rapidity. Milk seldom
arrives to the consumer before twelve or more hours after the 'milking,' and no adequate measures
are taken, as a rule, to keep it cool, at the farm, or on the railway journey. It is liable to be fouled
in every stage of its collection and progress; and in poor localities it is stored and vended at places
where it becomes exposed to additional pollution; sustaining yet further contamination in the more
or less squalid homes of the poor. Condensed milk, on the other hand, is usually heavily and
injuriously loaded with sugar, and when exposed to the air suffers bacterial infection. When one
reflects on these things, and on the conditions of infant life, generally, amongst the poor; the lack,
too often, of maternal care, and the general denial to the babe of its natural food, etc., the wonder is,
not that so many infants die, but that so many survive the age of infancy—often only to die, from
one cause or another, before attaining the age of five years. It may be asked how can this sacrifice
of life be prevented or diminished ? So many children, born weakly or prematurely, hold to life
by such a weak thread, that infantile mortality must needs be high, always. But that there are many
preventable deaths admits of no doubt, and I am persuaded that the remedies for the evil must be
sought in improved homes, better training of girls to fit them for their duties as wives and mothers;
and, if mothers cannot be induced to suckle their babes, in a purer milk supply. Probably, for the
present, at least, the means last named is the more easily to be attained, and pre-eminently by the
institution of " Municipal Milk Depots." But the Local Government Board, so far, have not given
authority for provision of these establishments, and dairymen have taken no steps to supply the want,
and appear not to be favourably disposed to the adoption of the system by public health authorities.
Municipal milk is provided, in London, in one borough only—that of Battersea. The milk is
sterilized and sent out in stoppered bottles, each of which contains the exact dose required for a
meal; the bottle is not opened until it is wanted, and what milk is not consumed at the time is not
given to the infant.
This question was considered at the Conference of delegates of the Borough Councils,
convened by the London County Council, and held at the County Hall, in July, when the following
resolution was unanimously adopted :—
"That having regard to the declining birth-rate, and the high rate of infantile-mortality
in the Metropolis, it is desirable that the Metropolitan Borough Councils should be empowered,
at their discretion, to provide, in their respective districts, depots for the preparation
and sale of sterilised and humanised milk for the food of infants, and that the London County
Council be requested to insert a clause in their General Powers Bill for the Session of 1905
to confer such power upon the said Borough Councils."