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36
Institutions
under the
control of the
Council.
The cows kept at institutions under the control of the Council have been
inspected quarterly by the Council's veterinary surgeons, and samples of the milk
have been taken at least twice during the year. The results of sampling and of
veterinary inspection were as follows:—
Department.
Approximate stock at
31st December, 1934.
Visits by
veterinary
surgeon.
Samples taken
Samples found
to be
tuberculous.
Cows with
tuberculosis.
Cows with unhealthy
conditions
not tuberculous.
Cows. Bulls.
Education 9 - - 8 8 - - 1
Mental hospitals 847 19 44 54 212 14 11 131
Public assistance 13 - 3 8 13 - - -
Public health 49 3 31 8 15 1 1 5
Total 918 22 78 78 248 *15 12 137
* Or 6 per cent.
At the visits of the veterinary surgeons cows are sampled in groups and when a
specimen proves positive and it is impossible to discover the diseased cow by clinical
methods, individual samples are taken under the instructions of the veterinary
surgeons, who confer with the farm bailiffs and give such advice as may be necessary
for the treatment of suspected milk and the general maintenance of the herds.
Licensed
cowsheds.
The cows in the London licensed sheds are inspected under the provisions of
Part IV of the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926. The veterinary surgeons inspected each
shed at least four times during the year, making 174 visits in all. During these
inspections 3,516 cows were examined of which 229 were found to be unhealthy,
seven suffering from tuberculosis of the udder or giving tuberculous milk, six in a
state of tuberculous emaciation, 92 atrophied in one or more quarters and 124 with
some other defect.
The animals found to be tuberculous were slaughtered, either voluntarily by
the owners or by the Council under the provisions of the Tuberculosis Order, 1925.
The number of licensed cowsheds in the county has diminished from 738 in 1889,
the year of the Council's inception, to 42 in the year now under review. The existing
premises are mostly situated in the metropolitan boroughs of Woolwich, Stepney
and Bethnal Green, parts of Woolwich still containing open fields, while in Stepney
and Bethnal Green the sheds are necessary for the supply of milk to Jewish residents
in accordance with the requirements of their religion.
Venereal Diseases.
In his annual report for the year 1916, Sir William Hamer, at that time county
medical officer of health, gave particulars of a scheme for the provision of the
necessary facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of venereal disease which had
been formulated as a result of conferences between representatives of the counties
of London, Buckingham, Essex, Hertford, Kent, Middlesex and Surrey, and of the
county boroughs of Croydon, East Ham and West Ham.
The Local Government Board, in due course, signified its approval of the scheme,
which came into operation on 1st January, 1917, and is known as the London and
Home Counties Scheme.
Hospitals.
1 he general and special hospitals undertaking in-patient or out-patient treatment
and other work under the scheme at the end of 1934, were as follows:—
General Hospitals.—St. Thomas's; Seamen's; Royal Free (women); Guy's;
West London; Royal Northern; St. Mary's; St. George's; University College;
Metropolitan; King's College; Albert Dock; Miller General; St. John's (Lewisham);
Westminster.
Special Hospitals.—South London hospital for Women; St. Paul's; Great
Ormond-street (Children); Mothers' hospital (Salvation Army), Lower Clapton-
road, E.; Children's Medical Home, Waddon.
Clinics with all-day medical and intermediate treatment have been provided at
St. Thomas's hospital; St. Paul's hospital; Guy's hospital; West London hospital;