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29
The distribution of milk by cans, or by bottles filled in
the street, is to be condemned; to give one instance, a roundsman
filled non-sterilised bottles from a can, and while so
doing, held the discs between his teeth. One can thus imagine
the possibilities of serious infection being spread in this
manner, for milk is an excellent medium for the growth and
cultivation of bacteria. That roundsman might have been a
Diphtheria carrier, a Typhoid carrier, or have been suffering
from grave contagious disease.
Cleanliness of handling of milk is essential, and that the
bigger firms are now in Bromley undertaking a hygienic
delivery is a happy indication of progress.
Meat.
The inspection of meat is carried out by the Sanitary
Inspectors, both of whom possess the meat certificate. The
inspection includes shops where meat is sold, of which there
are 42 in the Borough, and at the slaughterhouses, of which
6 are licensed and 5 registered by the Local Authority. There
have been no additions or deductions from this number of
slaughterhouses since 1920.
The fact that much of the meat slaughtered in the
Borough passes afterwards through Smithfield Market provides
for double inspection, and vice versa, much of the meat
sold in Bromley passes first through the Smithfield
inspection.
One can justifiably report that the quality of meat sold
in Bromley reaches a high and safe standard. This being
so, it is to be regretted that greater protection in the shops
by closed windows and by the prevention of fly contamination
is not more fully enforced by the trader. There are many
excellently conducted shops, but there are others which are
not doing all that is desirable in this direction. It is an old
established fact that the fly can carry disease, and because
meat is cooked after sale should not excuse laxity in