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70
FOOD SUPERVISION.
Two cases of scarlet fever occurred on premises where milk was sold; 3 milk carriers
were reported ill with infectious diseases (viz., one each of diphtheria, erysipelas, and enteric
fever) and 3 cases occurred in the families of milk carriers (1 of diphtheria and 2 of scarlet
fever). Every precaution was taken to obviate the milk supplies becoming contaminated,
and no spread of infection occurred through that channel.
The supervision of the sale of milk in the Metropolis is in a somewhat confused state
owing to the partial transfer of responsibility effected by the London Government Act, 1899.
Prior to that Act coming into force the County Council was the sole authority dealing with
the milk supply of the Metropolis. By Sec. 28 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, the
Local Government Board is empowered to issue an Order to regulate the sale, &c., of milk, and
the London County Council to make By-laws under such Order. The Board has never issued
any Order, and the supervision has been carried out under the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops
Orders of 1885-99. No regulations or by-laws specially applying to the Metropolis
have been made. The circumstances of the Metropolitan trade are such* as require
special regulations, while those now in use, have been framed to deal with the whole country.
In the sub-division of the jurisdiction between the County and the Borough Councils, to the
former is left the administration of "Orders," and to the latter that of "regulations and
by-laws (non-existing)."
Sources of Milk Supply— From inquiries made by the Inspector it appears that the milk
sold in the Borough is obtained from:—
(a) The two cowsheds in the Borough ; and
(b) 1,051 farms, situated in the (16) counties of
Bedford Cornwall Hertford Somerset
Berks Derby Northampton Stafford
Buckingham Dorset Middlesex Warwick
Cheshire Gloucester Oxford Wilts

At these milkshops, the Inspector reports that the provision made for the cleansing of
cans and receptacles is adequate, and that the premises are well kept and in good sanitary
condition. The counter-pans at 80 shops are of chinaware in 77 shops, iron in 3 shops, while
at the remaining (2) shops, no counter-pan is used, the milk for sale over the counter being
kept in a " churn." At 57 (out of 82) of the shops, he found the counter-pan covered with
muslin at the time of his visit, but he states that in the summer "practically the whole of
the utensils " are covered, to exclude flies and dirt.

* The total consumption of milk in the Metropolis is approximately 63 million gallons per ann., of which only
1¾—2 million gallons are " produced " within the Metropolis.