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suffering, from taking part in the conduct of the business of a
cowkeeper or a dairyman. Cattle however being property, are
much better looked after, as the law stands, than man, in respect
of the prevention of the spread of infectious diseases. The
occurrence of animal diseases must be reported, infected animals
being isolated and quarantined, if not at once slaughtered.
The unsatisfactory character of the arrangements under the
Act and the Order formed the subject of discussion at a Meeting
of the Society of Medical Officers of Health, held in December,
1880, when the following resolution was unanimously adopted:—
"That in the opinion of this Society it is desirable, having .
regard to the more effectual prevention of the spread of
zymotic disease by the agency of milk, that the special
sanitary supervision and inspection of cowsheds, dairies,
and milk shops should be entrusted to the Local
Authorities, the Medical Officers of Health, and the
Sanitaiy Inspectors of the respective districts."
Since the preceding observations were printed, an important
announcement has been made in Parliament which shows that
the Government are at last alive to the futility of the existing
arrangements: the Vice-President of the Privy Council having
lately stated, in reply to a question by Lord George Hamilton,
that the Council had reason to believe that, except for the purpose
of registration, very few local authorities have carried out the
provisions of the Dairies Order framed under the 34th Section
of the Act, as they have no special officers for the inspection of
Dairies : the Privy Council, he added, have been in communication
with the Local Government Board on the subject, and inasmuch
as the question relates rather to human health than to the prevalence
of animal diseases, it has been agreed to bring in a short
Bill to repeal Section 34 of the Contagious Diseases (Animals)
Act, and to authorise the Local Government Board to treat the
question as one affecting the public health.
BAKEHOUSES.
The duties formerly devolving on your Vestry as local authority
under the provisions of the " Bakehouse Regulation Act, 1863"