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Some 2,000-3,000 children received cod-liver oil and malt in school on the
doctor's advice.
In addition to the children receiving milk in school on the school doctors'
advice, a large number of children are taking advantage of the Milk Marketing
Board's scheme through voluntary school milk clubs organised by the head teachers.
In January, 1938, it was reported that the total number of children receiving
milk in the London schools was estimated to be 374,000, about 322,000 of whom
were having one bottle, and 52,000 were having two bottles a day.
The scheme of the Milk Marketing Board provided originally that only one
bottle should be allowed daily at the reduced price to children other than those
who were certified by the school doctors to require milk on medical grounds. At
the instance of the representative groups of teachers, however, it was agreed in
October, 1936, by the Milk Marketing Board that all children in the London schools
who desired it might have two bottles daily at the reduced price. All milk given in
the London schools is pasteurised.
Many practical points have arisen from time to time in connection with the
scheme.
(1) The amount.—The medical officer has always insisted that the "medical"
cases should have two bottles, each containing one-third of a pint, of milk a day.
Further experience has emphasised the importance of this and leads to the opinion
that all children, whether medical cases or not, should have the opportunity of
having two bottles of milk daily.
(2) Warming.—The question of warming the milk during cold weather is
frequently raised. The medical officer has always discountenanced any form of
irregular heating of the milk delivered to the schools. Keeping the milk for a period
before consumption in the class room, probably near a radiator, so that at the time
of consumption the chill is taken off, and the milk is consumed at room temperature
appears to be quite satisfactory.
(3) Straws.—Natural straws proved unsatisfactory, as there was never any
guarantee that they were clean. In some consignments live maggots were found.
After conference with the trade, English manufactured artificial straws were introduced,
and these have proved quite satisfactory.
(4) Problems connected with the covering of the bottles, their cleaning, and the
presence of spicules of glass.—In the earlier months of the scheme, there were frequent
complaints of the danger from spicules of glass found in the bottles. The
presence of such spicules, it was thought, was promoted by the method of cover
of the bottles used. A shallow cavity existed above the level of the cardboard discs
used as covers; in this cavity water of condensation (as well as dust) collected; and
in cold weather, ice was apt to form, which by its expansion, split off spicules from
the glass rims.
The substitution of bottles with metal caps has led to diminution in the complaints
of the presence of glass spicules, thus lending some support to the above
explanation of their formation. The metal caps are much more cleanly, and are
altogether to be preferred.
Another objection to the use of cardboard discs was that accumulations of these
in or about the school with adherent milk or cream attracted mice.
Milk Marketing
Board's
scheme,
voluntary
milk clubs