View report page

24
Other Sanitary Conditions requiring Notice.—Note should be made of any important matters
of Sanitary environment which have received attention during the year 1920. or demand special consideration
now, and are not included in the above headings.
No matter falls to be reported under the above heading.
Schools.—The Sanitary condition and water supply of schools, especially public- elementary
schools, should be reported on.
The total number of public elementary schools in the district is 32, of which 20 are Council
schools and 12 Non-provided schools. In addition, there are 2 Physically Defective schools and
1 Mentally Defective school. 18 of the Council schools are permanent and 2 temporary buildings.
They are all of modern construction. The sanitary arrangements are satisfactory and in accordance
with the regulations of the Board of Education relating to Public Elementary Schools.
The Non-provided schools are not of modern construction, but the sanitary arrangements
have, as far as practicable, been amended in accordance with modern principles.
Water is supplied to all the schools from the main of the Metropolitan Water Board, and
adequate facilities are provided in the playgrounds for supplying drinking water for the scholars
Certain details of construction with regard to the Public Elementary schools in Willesden
are to be found in the Annual Health Report for 1909, pages 38-95. Since this report was written,
Lower Place and Disraeli Road Temporary Schools have been discontinued and the following new
Schools opened:—
Lower Place School (permanent)—Junior and Senior. Mixed.
Bridge Road School (permanent)—Boys, Girls. Infants.
Carlton Vale (permanent)—Girls and Infants.
Percy Road Boys' School (permanent)—Boys.
Gladstone Park School (temporary)—Mixed and Infants.
College Road School (temporary)—Mixed and Infants.
Schools.—The action taken in relation to the health of the scholars and for preventing the spread
of infectious disease.
During the year, 360 cases of Scarlet Fever, 411 Diphtheria, 1,025 Measles and German Measles,
337 Whooping Cough and 373 cases of Chicken Pox were reported amongst Willesden scholars and
dealt with according to the principles and regulations set out in my Annual Health Report. 1919,
pp. 27-29.
3. FOOD.
(a) Milk Supply.—The wholesomeness of the milk produced within or imported into the district
and the general adequacy of the arrangements for the supply and distribution of milk of pure and wholesome
character should be reported upon ; also the administration of the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops
Orders ; and any action taken as to tuberculous milk, whether under local Acts or under Articles 13 and
15 of the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order of 1885, and Article 11 of the Dairies, Cowsheds, and
Milkshops Order of 1899.
The amount of milk produced in Willesden is rapidly decreasing year by year. At the end
of the year 1919 there were 51 milch cows in 3 farms in the district. At the end of the year 1920,
the keeping of cows at one of the three farms had been discontinued and the number of cows reduced
in the others to 33 and 4 respectively.
The amount of milk produced by 37 cows is a negligible quantity, when considering the total
milk supply of Willesden, and Willesden therefore, like London, is dependent on outside sources
for its milk supply.
It is a recognised fact, that generally the conditions under which Milk is produced and distributed
in this country are unsatisfactory. The Milk and Dairies Consolidation Act, 1915, which
is at present suspended, makes provision for securing more adequate supervision of the conditions
under which milk is produced and distributed. A Bill is at present before Parliament to amend
the Act to secure improvements in the quality of the milk supply. The date, however, of the passing
of the Bill, is indefinite.
No action was taken by the Council under the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops Order, or
the Tuberculosis clauses of the Willesden District Council Act, 1903, for the detection of Tuberculosis
of the udder in cows ; the continued suspension throughout the country of the Tuberculosis Order
of 1914 rendering such local action valueless.
The 129 milkshops in the district were all visited and the conditions under which milk is
handled, together with the appliances and methods of cleansing of cans and utensils, inspected and
examined. 17 contraventions of the Regulations were observed and remedied after the service
of notices.
Milk (Mothers and Children) Order, 1919.—A review of the action taken by the Local A uthority
tinder this Order should also be included.
The Annual Health Report, 1919, pp. 30 and 31, states the conditions under which milk,
dried milk, or meals were supplied to expectant and nursing mothers and children under 5 years,