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88
The discoveries of the Royal Commission have added considerably
to the difficulties of the milk problem. It has been demonstrated
that tuberculosis of the udder has not the special
importance that was formerly assigned to it, and that any form of
tuberculosis in a milch cow must be regarded as dangerous to the
public. Tuberculosis is very common in milch cows, and a considerable
amount of the milk supplied to the public contains tubercle
bacilli. It has been surmised that such milk is supplied chiefly to
the poorer districts, but our experience in Hampstead does not
confirm this. We have found that of the 76 samples of milk
examined no less than 22.4 per cent. contained tubercle bacilli.
It is evident that the danger arising from tuberculous milk is widespread,
and can only be dealt with effectively by large and comprehensive
measures. The Government have undertaken to deal with
the question of milk supply on a national basis, but at the time
of writing the promised Bill has not been introduced into
Parliament.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
The number of samples taken for analysis under the Sale of
Food and Drugs Acts during the year was 508, and the number
certified by the Public Analyst to be adulterated was 18, or 3.5
per cent. of the total number. The corresponding percentage in
1907 was 8.8; in 1906 it was 4.8. In addition 11 samples were
certified to be of low quality.
409 samples were purchased from Hampstead tradesmen, and
99 from persons residing without, but trading within the Borough.
The percentages of adultered samples in these two classes were 3.4
and 4 respectively.
13 samples were taken on Hampstead Heath on Bank Holidays,
and of these 2, or 15.3 per cent., were adulterated.
38 samples were taken on Sundays; one of this number was
found to be adulterated, and three were of low quality.
The following table shows the articles of which samples were
taken during the year, and the number found to be adulterated or
of low quality:—