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142
It is admitted that the cowsheds in the Metropolis have been
much improved since the first Dairies Order was issued in 1879,
mainly because the regulations, which the Metropolitan Board
was authorised to make, established, for the first time, something
like a standard in regard to structural and other requirements,
power to make regulations being then for the first time conferred.
But this good result is due, in part at least, to the work of the
Medical Officers and the inspecting staff of the several Sanitary
Authorities, taking advantage of the existence of the regulations,
although having no statutory power under them or under the Order.
This position of affairs will be recognised as all the more extraordinary,
in presence of the fact that by the fresh regulations made
by the Metropolitan Board, under the Order of 1885, dairymen and
cow-keepers are required to notify (to the Board) the occurence of
cases of infectious disease on registered premises. That some
use might be made of the information thus obtained, the Board
has consented, on the advice of the Society of Medical Officers
of Health, to give notice to the Medical Officers of the several
districts, of the occurrence of such illnesses, which the registered
persons are bound under penalty to report; and Regulation 29
actually forbids resumption of business " in such (registered)
building until the same has been disinfected and declared by the
Medical Officer of Health for the district to be free from
infection." The Board in return has requested that similar information
coming to the knowledge of the Medical Officer, may
be communicated to it, and also that the Medical Officer
and the Sanitary Inspectors should be authorised to make known to
the Board any premises used for storage and sale of milk which
have not been registered. Acting on my suggestion, moveover, the
Board has supplied a local list of registered premises to the
Sanitary Authority in each district; and this may incidentally
prove useful, although, as I have already said, the Sanitary
Authority have no statutory power, no right of entry upon the
premises.
Excepting as regards the one matter dealt with above, the
passing of the new Act is subject for congratulation, for the