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Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
110 samples of milk have been taken on Sundays, either in
the early morning or at mid-day. 11, or 10 per cent. were reported
against as being adulterated.
390 samples of milk were taken from milk vendors in the
street during the early morning (i.e., 5 to 7 a.m.), on week days,
and of these 40 or 10 per cent. were reported against.
In 21 cases the defendants relied on a warranty, and in 11
of these the Magistrate was satisfied that the milk sold was in
the same condition as received, and therefore dismissed the
summonses.
In three cases the Magistrate was not satisfied, and convicted
the defendants, in one an order for the costs was made, and
in one case where warranty was proved, proceedings were taken
against the warrantor for giving a false warrant. The Magistrate,
in dismissing the case, made the following remarks :—
" I must dismiss this case. In a similar case to- this I convicted
and the Sessions said I was wrong.
"The consequences to London are serious. Pure milk is of
the utmost importance to all, particularly to children. They will
not get it whilst things remain as they are.
" The farmer in the country warrants that his milk will
arrive pure in London. He cannot, of course, see to it or control
it. He cannot be convicted if he sends it off all right; that
is the decision of the Sessions. The retailer cannot be convicted
if he sells it as he receives it. The result is milk with 50 per
cent, of water may be sold and no conviction follow.
" I thought if the farmer warranted that which he could not
perform he could be convicted, but the Sessions say he cannot
be. If so, the position is hopeless, and the matter requires legislation.
In my opinion the Borough Councils of London will
never get things right till they one and all intimate that it is
useless to prosecute until the law is put into a reasonable shape
in this matter.
" I should like to' add that the Vice-Chairman of the Sessions
in giving his decision, said the case resembled that of a passenger
who was not to be expected to look alter his luggage and see
it was safe in transit.