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50
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
(b) Determinations made of milk-fat in cream sold as Preserved
Cream :—
(1) Above 35 per cent. 33
(2) Below 35 per cent.
Total 33
(c) and (d). In each of the 33 samples procured as Preserved
Cream the provisions as to labelling were duly
observed.
(3) Thickening substances Nil.
(4) Other observations Nil.
Milk and Food.
The Council decided on the 11th April, 1918, to supply, under
the Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, milk free of cost to
necessitous expectant and nursing mothers, and to children under
five years of age. This scheme came into force on the 1st May,
1918.
All applications are investigated, and should the income per
head after deducting rent, insurance, and travelling expenses of
breadwinner, fall below the scale approved by the Council, viz.,
10s. per week, the milk is supplied up to two pints daily for a
nursing or expectant mother, 1½ pints for a child under 18
months, and one pint between the ages of 18 months and five
years. Cases in which the average income is slightly over the
scale, and there is need for extra milk, are referred to the Medical
Officer of Health, who authorises the allowance.
During 1920, 1,220 families were supplied with free milk at
a cost to the Borough Council of £4,583.
Free dinners were also granted to necessitous, expectant and
nursing mothers, and to children under five years of age, on the
same scale. The necessity for the supply of free dinners was
not found to be very urgent. 70 mothers and 84 children were so
helped during the year, arrangements being made with local eating
houses in each district to provide the dinners at a cost of one