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The children come between 9 and 10 in the morning, are bathed and prepared for
operation, and are admitted to the wards. They are operated on early in the afternoon, and
remain in the wards two nights. In the event of any untoward symptoms arising they are
kept in longer. During the past year nearly 1,700 cases have been operated on, and, although
some have caused anxiety, we have had no fatalities.
In conclusion, I should like to thank the County Council and their officials for their
reasonable and harmonious co-operation, the school teachers for their helpful appreciation, the
doctors and dentists for their skilful work, and the nurses for their sympathetic and devoted
attention to the children— including in this category the work of the St. Pancras District
N urses.
June, 1925. A. R. Roche,
Secretary to the St. Pancras Public Medical Service and
the Highgate New Town Clinic.
Section VI.—FOOD.
(a) MILK SUPPLY.
Almost the whole of the milk supply of the Borough is derived from farms in the
Provinces and is brought into London by train. During the year some samples were taken early
in the morning at railway stations, from various churns, immediately on arrival.
These were examined for obvious (macroscopic) dirt, in order to ascertain if the general
conditions at the farms of origin could be assumed to be fairly satisfactory.
The report of the bacteriologist stated that as regards visible "dirt" the samples
"appeared to be very clean." The quantity of dirt in the different samples being from 1½ to
6½ parts only in 100,000 of milk. The " dirt" examined microscopically was found to consist
chiefly of soil, foecal material, hairs, etc.
In November, a customer noticing a deposit in a bottle of milk delivered at his house
reported the matter. A sample was taken which,on analysis, was found to contain "some pus,
blood, and many bacteria, probably indicating an abscess in the udder of at least one cow." It
was then ascertained that the milk was a " mixed milk " obtained from eight different sources
in the counties of Cheshire, Derby and Leicester. Samples from each source were therefore
taken at the station before being mixed, in order to trace the source of contamination. This
was discovered, the supply of milk stopped, and the local authority informed. An examination
of the herd was made by a veterinary surgeon, and a cow with a diseased udder was discovered.
During the year, samples of " Certified Milk " were regularly submitted to bacteriological
examination. " Certified Milk " is milk produced under conditions licensed by the Ministry
of Health, and should attain the highest standard of purity. On one occasion, a sample was
found to contain organisms of intestinal origin (Bacillus Coli) above the permissible limit, and
the case was reported to the Ministry of Health.
Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops.
Cousheds.—At the end of 1924 there were two licensed cowsheds in the Borough. They
are registered for 43 cows, but were occupied by 7.
Milkshops and Dairies.—37 applications for registration under the Dairies, Cowsheds,
and Milkshops Orders, in respect of milkshops, were considered during 1924, of which 18
were acceded to and 19 refused. Ten applications in respect of itinerant vendors were also
considered, of which 7 were acceded to and 3 refused.
The figures in regard to the registration of milkshops are set out below: —
Number of purveyors of milk at retail milkshops on register at end of 1923 213
Deduct number of purveyors removed from register during 1924 20
Add number of purveyors added to register by resolution of Council
during 1924 18
Number of purveyors of milk at retail milkshops on register at end of 1924 211