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43
The following extract from the Annual Report for 1908 of the Intelligence
Division of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries is a practical illustration
of the need both for the improvement in the methods of transit of milk by
railway companies and the designing of milk churns.
" Damage to Milk."
" It was reported to the Board by a London Dairy Company that
" milk conveyed by one of the southern lines was frequently contaminated
" by smuts from the engines. On enquiry it was ascertained that the
" trucks in which the milk was carried were of the open-boarded type,
" and that these trucks were being gradually superseded in favour of
" vans ventilated at the bottom. It appeared, however, that the
" construction of the milk can in use was also partly responsible for the
" condition in which the milk was received, as the lids were not of the
" type best calculated to prevent the contamination of the milk by dust
" and smuts."
CLEANSING OF VERMINOUS SCHOOL CHILDREN.
The London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1907, empowers the
Council, as the Local Education Authority for the County, to take effective
measures for dealing with children in a verminous condition attending their
schools. It enables the Council's Medical Officer, or any person provided with
written authority from that Officer, to make a formal examination of the
children and their clothing, and failing the cleansing of any verminous child
by the parents, to require the compulsory cleansing of its person and clothing
in suitable premises and with suitable appliances.
The Council may make use of any premises or appliances suitable for the
purpose the local Sanitary Authority may possess. .
Similar powers were also given by the Children Act, 1908, which
extended their application to the whole country, whereas the London County
Council's Act was confined to the Metropolitan area. The Children Act
further contains a penalty clause which renders the parent, guardian, or other
person liable to maintain the child that has been allowed to get into such a
condition that it is again necessary to proceed under this Act, liable to a fine
not exceeding Ten Shillings.
The Council having invited the Corporation to co-operate in putting these
very useful statutory provisions into effect, it was referred to me to make the
necessary arrangements with the Council's Officer for dealing with any cases
that might arise among children residing in the City who attended the
Council's schools.