View report page

to the problem of contamination of this vital foodstuff. Serious
national and international problems have tended to crowd out the
subject of milk from current agenda, but the problem remains none
the less urgent and deserving of immediate attention. If the Government
refuses to act, the initiative would appear to lie with the
local authorities. The promotion of local legislature may be more
costly, but the expenditure incurred would be amply repaid by the
additional safety with which the public would be supplied.
Infringements.—The following infringements were discovered
and rectified during the year:—
Milk and Dairies Order, 1926.
Retailing milk without being registered as Retail Purveyor, 6.
Veterinary Examination of Cows.—This was undertaken, as
before, by the Middlesex County Council.
Inspection of Cowsheds, Dairies and Milkshops.—The
cowsheds, dairies and milkshops in the district were regularly
inspected throughout the year, the conditions found therein being
satisfactory.
As noted in the Annual Report for 1935, the examination of
milk samples undertaken at the Council's laboratory provides an
extremely valuable check upon such inspections.
Meat.—There are no public abattoirs in the district. Butchers'
shops are visited frequently, while slaughterhouses are kept under
strict control.
Once again the total number of carcases inspected in the district
during the year has shown a substantial increase. Thus, the duties
of meat inspection assume an even greater significance than before.
The following is a summary of the work carried out during
1938:—
Total number of carcases examined, 23,424.
42