London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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St Pancras 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]

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87
As, under the General Order of the Local Government Board, it is the duty
of a Medical Officer of Health to give immediate information to the Local
Government Board and to the County Council of any outbreak of dangerous
infectious disease, it follows that at the same time as he informs the vendor,
middleman, or farmer that he has evidence that his milk is spreading dangerous
infectious disease, that he must also inform the County Council and the Local
Government Board. If, therefore, the infected milk be sent to another part of
the same county and cause a fresh outbreak, the County Council would possess
the necessary evidence to prosecute; if sent into a different county the Local
Government Board would possess the evidence necessary for prosecution.
Legislation is therefore necessary to provide that where a vendor, purveyor,
or producer of milk has been informed in writing by a Medical Officer of Health
that there is evidence to show that his milk has been the means of spreading
dangerous infectious disease, and has been advised to discontinue its distribution
and he does not forthwith cease to distribute such milk, and it be proved that
he has continued to distribute such milk either in the same or in another district
or county, or other counties, and there to further spread dangerous infectious
disease, he shall be liable to prosecution at the instance of the District, Borough,
or County Council, or Local Government Board, according to whether the said
distribution has taken place in one or more districts, boroughs, or counties.
The following resolutions were passed by the Borough Council on the 21st
September, 1904:—
1.—That the Local Government Board and the Board of Agriculture be
urged to take such steps as will ensure the better enforcement of the
Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Orders, and the Regulations made
thereunder, outside the Metropolis.
2.—That, in respect of the Metropolis, the Local Government Board be
urged to carry out their statutory powers as laid down in Section 28
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891.
3.—That the Local Government Board and Board of Agriculture be
requested to obtain legislative powers to make regidations for the
more sanitary means and methods of transit and storage of milk.
4.—That the Local Government Board be written to suggesting that all
milkshops and milkstores be required, under penalty, to be licensed
annually, as is the case at present with all cowsheds, and that no
person or persons be allowed to sell milk unless the premises at
which such milk is sold and stored have been previously certified as
"suitable" by the Sanitary Authority for the District.
5.—That to secure united action amongst the Metropolitan Borough and
City Councils a communication be sent to each of them stating the
above recommendations made by the Lambeth Borough Council.