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Many premises are not suitable for the handling of so
easily contaminated a food as ice cream, and there is often a
lack of personal cleanliness about the vendors.
In a few cases the premises are used for making the cream
only, it being sold from barrows in the street, but generally
speaking it is sold at the premises at which it is made.
The selling of this commodity from barrows is, in my
opinion, very undesirable as the provision for the washing
of the utensils used (glasses, wafer-frames, &c.) is very
inadequate and unsatisfactory.
Schools.—The sanitary condition and water supply of the
Schools is a matter which requires very little attention from
the Public Health Department. The supervision of the
schools is in the hands of the London County Council, but
combined action has been taken when and where required,
with a view to preventing the spread of infectious disease.
An arrangement exists whereby cases of Measles, Whooping
Cough and Chicken Pox are notified by the Head Teacher to
the Medical Officer of Health, at the same time as they send
to the Divisional Superintendent.
These cases are followed up, and the premises are
inspected with a view to any insanitary conditions being
remedied. This form of co-ordination is carried out as far
as possible under the present conditions. There is little or no
contact between the School Medical Officers and the Medical
Officers of Health of the Metropolitan Boroughs. The latter's
knowledge of the health of the school children depends entirely
upon the very little information he obtains from the School
Medical Officers. .
FOOD.
Milk Supply.—The milk supply for the Borough is the
same as that for the whole of London. This supply is carried
out for the most part by several wholesale distributors, most
of whom have combined to form what is known as the United
Dairies, Ltd. This combine supplies something like
two-thirds of the whole of the milk for London.
During the year 438 samples of milk were taken and submitted
to the Public Analyst for analysis, the results of
which are shown in the report of the Public Analyst attached
hereto. No samples were examined for the presence of Tubercle
Bacilli. This work is carried out by the County Council
and their investigations show that an average of 10 per cent.
of the samples contain germs of Tuberculosis.
This source is probably the cause of most of the Tuberculosis
in young children. Until such time as it is possible