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81
LAMBETH MUNICIPAL MILK DEPOT.
(Special Report presented to the Council on Oct. 25th, 1906.)
1.—Introductory Remarks.
In presenting my first Report on the working of the Lambeth
Milk Depot, I have pleasure in congratulating the
Borough Council on the good—I may even say excellent—
work that has been accomplished in preventing not only
deaths, but also illnesses, amongst the infants and children
who have been fortunate enough to be fed upon the milk.
The Milk Depot is situated at 66, York Road, Waterloo
Bridge Road, in the crowded district of the Marsh Ward, or
Waterloo, and was opened to the public on February 12th,
1906. The Report deals with the management and administration
of the Milk Depot during the first six months (26
weeks) during which the depot has been in use, and, during
this period, a total of 40,282 bottles of milk have been distributed—32,679
to the general public and 7,603 to the
Guardians. In connection with this comparatively large
out-put, it is noteworthy that complaints against the management
and administration are conspicuous by their absence
—a result for which the manageress (Miss Hartley) deserves
praise, more especially when the practical difficulties inseparable
from the establishing of a Milk Depot, and the distribution
of milk in a wholesome and sweet condition during
the hot summer weather (such as was experienced during
July and August), are taken into account. Sample bottles
of all milk distributed are kept.
The 40,282 bottles distributed represent the daily feeding,
for varying periods, of a total of 100 infants and children,
and the results obtained more than justify the establishment
of the Milk Depot.
The infants and children fed upon the milk belong to the
poorer classes, and, with very few exceptions, were, as
regards bodily health, at the time of commencing the milk,
much below the average—78 per cent. actually suffering
from general wasting (the result of neglect, improper feeding
and want of care), or from disease (4 being actually in a
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