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reliance might be placed in the high quality and purity of the milk
produced. The Association was fortunate in receiving the cooperation
of Mr. Carson, who has done much to improve the
dairy industry in this country, and the milk for the Depot was
therefore obtained from the Jersey herd on his farm in Essex, and
the refrigeration, modification, and bottling and, if necessary,
pasteurisation (150° F. for 20 minutes), were carried out at the
farm, which is managed on sanitary and hygienic lines.
(b) Medical supervision of the entire management of the
Depot and of the infants using the milk was also laid down as a
necessary principle.
(c) A discriminating and careful distribution of the milk only
to infants of the poor who could not by any means be breast fed.
(d) The systematic study of the effect of the milk on the
children, coupled with personal advice to the mothers, both at the
Depot and in their own homes ; and
(e) The sale of the milk to be as far as practicable at ordinary
market prices.
The object of the enterprise was intended to be educational as well
as preventive or ameliorative; it sought to meet a pressing local need,
and it was expressly stipulated that it should be so managed as not to
encourage artificial feeding where natural feeding could be secured.
Moreover, it combined for the first time in England an improved and
suitable infant milk supply with the teaching of the mother. It is
evident that these were not easy principles to carry out, and many
difficulties were encountered. On the whole, however, the work of the
Depot from its inception in November, 1904, met with marked success,
and in March, 1906, it had so far justified itself that it was taken over
by the Borough Council, who recognised their responsibilities in regard
to the necessity of special measures for the reduction of infant
mortality. The same principles were acted upon as formerly, which
have now been adopted by other Milk Depots in this countryParticulars
as to methods of milking have been fully dealt with in
former reports, where also will be found a study of results.
Since its commencement 543 children have used the milk, including
those already on the Depot at the beginning of the past year and those