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207
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
milk in the Borough. The evils attached to the sale of this commodity
are much greater than would at first appear. If separated
milk is sold as such well and good, but I know from experience
that much of the evil practices in connection with the milk trade is
due solely to this source.
The following are a few instances which have been brought
under my notice during the year :—
A vendor residing outside this Borough—as indeed most of
them do—advertised very extensively by means of handbills that
he was prepared to deliver pure new milk three times daily at 2jd.
per quart.
The Inspector endeavoured to procure a sample, but he found
on applying for it the seller stated that he had three kinds of milk,
viz.:—new milk, hand-skimmed milk, and machine-skimmed or
separated milk, and he could have which he wished. Knowing
that there was no hand-skimmed milk consigned to the Borough
the Inspector then asked him where he procured the article, and
he obtained the somewhat astonishing answer that "he made it."
Upon inquiring further how, the officer was informed that half a
churn of new milk was mixed with half a churn of separated milk,
and that hand-skimmed milk was the result. This article is undoubtedly
foisted on the unsuspicious poor for genuine new milk.
It is also interesting to note that in every instance the vessels containing
these various milks are distinctly marked, but needless to
say it is impossible for the ordinary purchaser to notice this, as the
inscription being on the top of the lid when the can is closed, it
follows that it cannot be seen when it is open and the vendor is
serving.
Another instance of the same kind :—
A., an itinerant seller, procured a small contract to supply a
cookery school in the Borough at a uniform price of 4d. per quart,
the ordinary retail price. Information reached the Inspector as to
this, and knowing the character of the dealer in question, he
managed, after some considerable difficulty, to obtain a sample,
which proved on analysis to be deficient in cream to the extent of