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37
The veterinary surgeon makes a routine quarterly inspection of the cows at each
cowshed. The results of his visits are shown below
No. of visits to cowsheds 307
No. of cows examined 7,900
No. of cows presenting unhealthy conditions as follows 117
With tuberculosis of udder 1 Each of these animals was slaughtered
Giving tuberculous milk 7 voluntarily by the owner.
With atrophy of one or more
quarter 60
With other defects 49
A general survey of cowhouses within the County of London was made during Cowhouses,
the year.
The power of issuing licences in respect of London cowsheds possessed by the
justices at the several petty sessions was transferred to the London County Council
on its creation by the Local Government Act, 1888. When the Public Health
(London) Act, 1891, came into force, the Council was continued as the licensing
authority, but the London Government Act, 1899, transferred to the local sanitary
authorities the duty of enforcing the regulations made by the Council under the
Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Orders of 1885, 1886 and 1899. These orders
were superseded by orders made under the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act,
1915. The effect of this Act and its consequential orders is that while the inspection
of the cattle and the general supervision in respect of licensing powers devolves upon
the Council, the local sanitary authorities are responsible for administering the law
relating to the lighting, ventilation, drainage and sanitary condition of the sheds
and curtilages, together with the supervision of the handling and distribution of
the milk.
In the forty years during which the Council has been the licensing authority
the number of licensed cowhouses in the County of London has decreased from 738
in 1888 to 55 in December, 1928.
Cowsheds have practically disappeared except in the boroughs of Woolwich,
Stepney and Bethnal Green. In Woolwich the reason for their persistence is that
portions of this district still retain their rural character. Stepney and Bethnal
Green both contain a considerable Jewish population, who, from religious motives,
are always anxious to obtain fresh raw milk. With the exception of Woolwich
much of the milk is sold from the shed direct to the consumer, and only a small
proportion of that sold otherwise is cooled.
The London cowsheds are mostly old, and of a character such as would not be
approved in the case of new buildings. The original regulations made under the
Dairies and Cowsheds Order of 1885 were directed mainly to the control of structure,
cubic space, etc., whereas under the Order of 1926, and the memorandum accompanying
the Order, the main regulations are replaced" by provisions similar in general
purpose, but modified in accordance with the development of modern hygienic
knowledge, so as to lay greater stress on cleanliness in all operations connected with
the production and handling of milk (including the care of the cow) than upon
the structure of the buildings."
In the existing cowsheds found in the more congested parts of the county, the
lighting and ventilation is in some cases unsatisfactory, and the yard space attached
to many of the sheds is not sufficient to enable the cowkeeper to deal satisfactorily
with manure, grains, churns, vehicles and washing. It should be remembered,
however, that the yard space is paved, whereas in the country, although the
curtilage is larger, this is rarely so, and there is greater risk of the fouling of the
cows and the shed and consequently of the milk.
It is generally agreed that the" ideal milk is fresh raw milk from a healthy cow,
carefully produced and handled," and whilst the London cowkeeper is sometimes