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or effluvia arising from sewers, drains, gullies, cesspools, or
closets, or by any offensive effluvia from putrid or offensive substances,"
etc.
We learn from the Board's Annual Report that since the
Order of 1879 came into operation, upwards of 24,500 registrations,
or transfers of registration, have been effected, and that
there are now some 9,000 registered premises in the Metropolis,
including those of 780 cowkeepers, who keep nearly 10,000
cows. In the larger dairies and milk stores, it is stated, " much
improvement has taken place, and they are generally in a satisfactory
condition while in the small shops where milk is sold,
" there has been considerable improvement in point of cleanliness,
and in the separation from the place of storage of substances
likely to contaminate the milk."
It is a somewhat extraordinary fact, which may be considered
satisfactory or otherwise, that proceedings under the Dairies
Order had to be taken in four cases only during the year "—viz.,
in one case for neglect of the regulations, and in three cases
against persons who carried on the sale of milk without complying
with the requirements of the Order as to registration.
PUBLIC HEALTH (DAIRIES, etc.) BILL.
In a previous Report I referred to the " Public Health,
(Dairies, etc.) Bill," introduced by Government in 1883, with the
object of placing the supervision of dairies, cowsheds, etc., under
the Sanitary Authorities, it having been found that in many parts
of the country the " Dairies, etc., Order of 1879," was practically
a dead letter, owing to the failure by " Local authorities " (mostly
county Magistrates) to appoint proper officers to inspect dairies
and cowsheds, and generally to carry out the provisions of the
Order.* The object of the Bill was (among other things) to
transfer to the Local Government Board the powers of the Privy
Council with regard to cowsheds, dairies, and milk shops,
*The "Local Authorities" for Middlesex, and part of the County of Surrey,
are deserving of honourable mention for having appointed special officers to
carry out the provisions of the Order.
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