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2 per cent. there was a gas cooking stove, and in about 12 per cent. there were both. In
tenements of three or four rooms an oven was found, with a single exception, in association
with the coal fire-grate, and in 16 per cent. of these tenements there was also a gas cooking
stove. It was often found that no provision had been made for carrying off the products of
combustion of such gas stoves."
I raised question on the results thus detailed as to whether each tenement should not be
required to be provided with a cooking stove. In giving evidence before the Physical Deterioration
Committee, I drew attention to this subject and that Committee has arrived at the conclusion
that the law should require a grate suitable for cooking to be provided in every tenement let for
the occupation of a family.
(22) Adulteration.
The Committee say "it would be highly expedient that the Local Government Board should be
authorised to fix a standard of purity for all foods and drinks in the same manner as standards for
milk and butter have been fixed by the Board of Agriculture."
No evidence was taken by the Committee on adulteration and the question of fixing standards of
purity, is, it appears to me, one which needs to be considered in some detail before deciding as to
the application of this method in particular instances.
(23) Infantile mortality and employment of women.
The recommendations of the Committee under this head were based on the evidence of Miss
Anderson, the Home Office inspector. This officer suggests that light would be thrown on the
relationship between excessive infantile mortality and employment of women in factories if certain
particulars as to rates of infant mortality in localised areas in industrial towns, and in particular
industries throughout the country, together with particulars as to the occupations (if any) of all
mothers (married or unmarried), were shown in the Registrar-General's records.
The question as to the desirability of preparing tables of the kind referred to will no doubt be
considered by the Registrar-General. The matter is one which is perhaps of less importance in
London than in some of the industrial centres of the north.
(28) Milk supply.
The Physical Deterioration Committee consider that the existing law as to control of milk supplies
should be more completely enforced.
Until 9th November, 1900, the County Council enforced the Dairies, etc., Orders of 1885 and 1886
and the regulations made thereunder ; from that date the enforcement of the regulations and
the registration of milk vendors was transferred to the borough councils, the enforcement of other
provisions of the Order remaining with the Council. To give effect to the Dairies, etc., Order of 1899
relating to the milk of a cow certified by a veterinary surgeon to be suffering from tubercular disease
of the udder, the Council appointed a veterinary surgeon in July, 1899, and systematic inspection of
cows in London cowsheds has since been made. In the General Powers Bill of 1903 power to slaughter
cows suspected to be suffering from tubercular disease of the udder was obtained by the Council. The
need of issuing a new order in place of the orders of 1885 and 1886 has long been apparent, and
indeed, before the passing of the London Government Act of 1899, the Public Health Committee
approached the Local Government Board on the subject. The question has not been settled as yet,
the Board desiring to await the report of the Tuberculosis Commission which is still sitting. Until
a new order is issued there must necessarily be a certain amount of difficulty in administration
owing to overlapping of jurisdictions ; there are, beyond this, certain amendments which it is
desirable should be made, and the Local Government Board has before it some suggestions made
by the Public Health Committee. Proposals relating to improvement of milk supply have been
included in the Council's Bills, but have not yet become law.
The Physical Deterioration Committee make certain further suggestions as to the issuing of
orders on the initiative of the Local Government Board in default of such action by urban and rural
authorities (no doubt outside London); as to county councils being empowered to act in default
of local authorities ; and as to its being the duty of the Local Government Board to intervene in the
ultimate resort. With these recommendations the Public Health Committee will no doubt be
in sympathy.
(30) Milk depots.
The Physical Deterioration Committee think that the milk supply should pass through as few
hands as possible, and that milk depots should be formed in every town, obtaining their supply
direct from the farms. They think this could be done " without recourse to direct municipal action,"
but add " that in all improvement bills promoted by local authorities the insertion of provisions
dealing with the milk supply within their area should be insisted upon."
At the conference of sanitary authorities held at the County Hall in July, 1904, it was resolved
" that it was desirable that the metropolitan borough councils should be empowered at their discretion to
provide in their various districts depots for the preparation and sale of sterilised and humanised milk
for the food of infants ; and that the London County Council be requested to insert a clause in its
General Powers Bill for the session of 1905 to confer such power upon the said borough councils."
A private bill, the Milk Depots (London) Bill, 1905, was however introduced, and the
Parliamentary Committee reported on this bill to the Council on 11th April, 1905 (p. 1379). The
Council approved the principle of the bill, but the bill did not become law.