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54
PART II.
Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops.
Under the London Government Act, 1899, the duty of registering dairies and the enforcement
of the regulations made under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order devolved upon
the several London sanitary authorities. Some of the reports of medical officers of health give
particulars of the work done in their districts. Thus in Kensington 274 milk premises were on
the register during the year. In Westminster it was resolved to register restaurants in which
milk was consumed on the premises. In St. Pancras there were 285 inspections of milk premises,
and proceedings were instituted in one instance. In Islington there were 589 milk premsies on
the register; the medical officer of health points out the need for the duty of inspection to devolve
on a special inspector. In Holborn the number of premises on the register was 156. In Finsbury
the number was 267; restaurants were not registered, but a list was kept. In the City 448 premises
in which milk was sold were dealt with; of these 368 were registered, 64 unregistered, and
16 were closed or demolished. In Shoreditch 319 premises were on the register, and 27 notices
were served; milk purveyors were recommended to protect the vessels containing milk from
flies and dust by covering them with fine linen. In Poplar there were 407 premises on the
register; they were kept under observation. In Bethnal-green there were 331 premises on the
register, and 1,217 visits were paid to them. In Southwark 426 premises were on the register,
concerning which there were 617 inspections and 2 prosecutions. In Bermondsey 243 premises
were on the register and they were regularly inspected. In Lambeth 458 premises were on the
register; all the drains were chemically tested and various structural improvements effected.
In Battersea 259 premises were on the register; they were systematically inspected and any
defects found remedied. In Wandsworth 274 premises were on the register. In Camberwell,
restaurants were registered. In Deptford the milk premises were regularly inspected and
notices served where necessary. In Woolwich 185 premises were on the register; they were all
inspected and were found generally in satisfactory condition, and no proceedings were instituted.
The administration of the provisions of the Order, other than that relating to registration,
remains with the County Council, and in 146 instances inquiries were made concerning infectious
disease on milk premises. During the year the Council received applications for the licensing of
303 cowshed premises. and licences were granted in resnect of 295.

These inspections were completed in January, June, September and November, and were
the third, fourth, fifth and sixth inspections made by Mr. Shaw. In every case of a cow certified
by Mr. Shaw to be suffering from tubercular disease of the udder the owner was at once informed
of the fact, and the sale of the milk from the cow was prohibited. In numerous other cases
in which Mr. Shaw was of opinion that the milk should not be used for human food the owner
was informed of this opinion. Mr. Shaw, in his third report, states that in nearly every case of
the sixteen cows suffering from, or suspected to be suffering from, tubercular disease of the udder,
the animal was removed for slaughter. A second examination was made of a few cows remaining,
and suspected to be suffering from tubercular disease of the udder, and fluid from the udder
sent to Dr. Klein for bacteriological examination. The tubercle bacillus was not found in the
material sent.
In his report Mr. Shaw states that the condition of cows' udders in London cowsheds
had much improved, the udders being kept cleaner by the cowman, who now reports to his
employer when any cow under his charge exhibits the least imperfection. In his fourth report
he states that the four cows suffering from tubercular disease of the udder were removed for
slaughter. The eight cows suspected to be suffering from this disease were kept under observation,
and as far as could be ascertained the milk of these cows was not again used for human food.
One of these cows died in the shed and the udder was found, on post-mortem examination, to
be affected with tubercular disease. Cows affected with mastitis, 41 in number, were periodically
examined until the udders recovered or the affected quarters atrophied. He comments on the