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296
1913]
Now we are sometimes told that the farmers do not send milk of high
quality to the metropolis. The Medical Officer of Health, however, finds that
this is an altogether fallacious statement, for out of 120 samples that were
procured at the railway stations in course of transit, 89, or 74.16 per cent.,
contained above 3.4 of fat; in other words, that the milk delivered by the
farmers was of a very high quality. An examination of the records respecting
these farmers' milks further showed that 43.4 per cent. contained from 3.5 to
3.9 per cent. of fat, while 32.5 per cent, contained from 4.0 to 4.9 per cent. of
fat, which means that 75.8 per cent. were high-class milks. There can be no
longer any doubt, therefore, that the milks delivered in Islington from the
country are ofa very high quality; and, indeed, the Medical Officer of Health finds
also that the analyses of the milks sold in the street—and it is to be recollected
that these milks include the adulterated samples—show that the quality is
good, for out of 318 samples analysed, only 26, or 8.18 per cent., contained
under 3.0 per cent. of fat; that 125, or 39.30 per cent., contained 3.0 and
under 3.5 per cent, of fat; while 167, or 52.52 per cent., contained over 3.5
per cent. of fat. Again the milks sold on Sundays were found to be particularly
good, for only 7, or 4.32 per cent., were found to contain less than 3 per cent.,
while 71, or 43.83 per cent., contained 3.0 and under 3.5 per cent. of fat, and
84, or 51.85 per cent., contained over 3.5 per cent, of fat. These figures,
therefore, show two things: first, that the farmers send really good milk to
Islington, and that the milk which is generally sold in the borough, whether on
weekdays or Sundays, is of good quality. 1 his should be reassuring information
for those persons who are constantly bewailing the quality of the milk;
while it should also be very gratifying to the farmers, who are frequently
made the scape-goats of interested persons.