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and, although, as is shewn in Table No. 34, 106 inspections
were made, it was only necessary to serve one notice.
Our observations during the year shewed that milk was being
produced in the Borough under much better conditions than
formerly, and that the cowkeepers and their workers were
realising that the production of milk under clean conditions
was an asset of much value to them.
Dairymen and Purveyors of Milk. Most of the milk
sold in Woolwich is produced outside the Borough and comes
almost entirely by rail from the milk producing counties.
All dairies are inspected monthly and care is taken to ensure
that a high standard of purity of the milk is maintained and
that cleanliness is observed in connection with the utensils and
premises. Most of the milk sold in Woolwich is distributed
in bottles and there is evidence that this practice is increasing.
The general public like their milk this way and think that
because it is delivered in bottles it is clean. Many of the
milkmen, unfortunately, do not yet realise that milk is a very
fine medium for the multiplication of microbes and do not
appreciate the importance of providing an efficient apparatus
for cleansing the bottles. Some members of the trade still
fail to realise that they cannot cleanse milk bottles in dirty
water—sometimes hot, more often tepid and occasionally
cold—and do not give the necessary supervision to the young
lads they engage for this purpose. The Inspector on this
duty has constantly to remind purveyors that scalding water
is very necessary in a milk business and that a plentiful
supply is needed if properly cleansed and safe utensils are
to be used. Generally speaking, the results of the year's
working shew that a higher standard of cleanliness is now
being maintained by our milk purveyors.
The Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923. This
Order provides for the issue of licences for the production,
bottling, and sale of " designated " milks, which may be