Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the vital and sanitary statistics of the Borough of Lambeth during the year 1919
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These two orders were rescinded on the 22nd December, 1919,
and in their places were issued the Milk (Mothers and Children)
Order, 1919, and the Local Authorities Milk (Mothers and Children)
Order, 1919, by the Food Controller and the Ministry of Health
respectively under the powers conferred under the Defence of the
Realm Regulations—these 2 latter orders re-enacting the 2 former
Orders with the following modifications : —
(1) The Order relates to milk only and not to food.
(2) The power of the Local Government Board to require
Local Authorities to make arrangements for the supplying
of milk has been omitted.
(3) Local Authorities are empowered to supply milk free, or
at less than cost price, not merely in necessitous cases
but also where such a supply is necessary because of the
retail price of milk in any area.
(4) The quantity of milk to be supplied is prescribed by the
New Order as follows :—
(a) For children under 18 months—1½ pints daily.
(b) For children between 18 months and 5 years —
1 pint daily.
(c) For expectant and nursing mothers —the quantity
prescribed by the person certifying.
The effect of the Order, therefore, is to empower Local Authorities
to supply milk to expectant and nursing mothers and to young
children without previously obtaining the consent of the Ministry
of Health (as is required by the Maternity and Child Welfare Act of
1918 in respect of distribution carried out under that Act) free, or
under cost price,where some person authorised by the Local Authority
certifies this to be necessary by reason of the retail price of
milk in its district. The Maternity and Child Welfare Grant distributed
by the Ministry of Health is limited to the cases of milk
supplied to necessitous cases, who are certified by the Medical