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75
Woolwich, and Battersea, there is no evidence that sterilization is the most
effectual way to reduce infantile mortality, indeed the contrary is the generally
accepted view of those who have carefully followed up the question. We
know as a matter of fact that rather more than eight per cent. of the milk
supplied to the City contains the bacillus of tuberculosis. Tuberculous milk
is diseased milk, and is known to be potent for danger to life, as shown by
the Local Government Board Report on Tuberculosis (see p. 37 of this
report). It is obvious that it is far better to eliminate any risk of danger at
its source, than to adopt doubtful expedients for rendering milk harmless after
it has passed out of the control of the farmer. The observance of strict
cleanliness in the handling of milk from the cow to the child, together with
the taking of precautions to prevent the use of tubercular cows for dairy
purposes, is the more rational course to adopt.
The Corporation further petitioned against the sections relating to the
Cleansing of Verminous Persons and their Clothing in Common LodgingHouses,
which powers, it was proposed, should be exercised by the County
Council Officers within the City. This petition was successfully sustained,
and similar powers to those sought by the County Council have been conferred
upon the Corporation within the City in which the Council's Officers will not
have any authority to exercise the powers sought.
There are great objections to the promotion of legislation dealing with
the control of food supplies to the Metropolis and elsewhere, by patchwork
legislation of the kind promoted by the London County Council, whose
General Powers Bills generally contain proposals that are extensions or
amendments of the Public Health Acts. The latter being a class of legislation
which should more properly be promoted by the Government of the day, and
be made to apply to the whole country.
The control of milk supplies is especially a matter that should be under the
supreme authority of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, whose business
it should be to see that the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Orders are
effectively carried out by those responsible for their administration.
The need for more radical improvement in this direction is shown by the
views expressed on this matter in the last published Annual Report of the
Local Government Board (1906-1907), quoted on page 108 (Dairies and
Milkshops) of this Report. Some further notes on this subject will be found
on p. 24 (Contaminated Milk).