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In one case a person was fined £10 and 21s. costs for unlawfully
selling and exposing for sale 30 lbs. of putrid beef
Milk adulteration.—The Committee received a letter from
the Vestry of Clerkenwell, dated 22nd July, with reference
to proceedings taken in that parish in regard to the
adulteration of milk. Three attempts at conviction were
made on the part of the Vestry, but in each instance the
summons was dismissed. In two of the prosecutions proceedings
were against a retailer who on each occasion produced
a written warranty. In the third instance the action was
against the farmer who had given the warranties, the summons
in this respect being also dismissed. The Vestry consider the
results such as to practically put an end to successful proceedings
for the adulteration of milk, as the retailer who
obtains the warranty is protected, whilst the farmer giving the
warranty cannot be reached. The Vestry therefore forwarded
a report of the case to the Local Government Board, suggesting
the urgent need of amendment of the law, and they invited the
co-operation of the other local authorities in the matter. As
difficulties of the kind referred to are liable to occur at any
time in connection with the prosecutions instituted by this
Vestry, the Committee recommended—
That this Vestry concur in the views of the Clerkenwell
Vestry, and address a communication on the subject
to the Local Government Board in support of the
proposed amendment of the law.
During the year one is glad to note that the " Council of
the British Dairy Farmers' Association, representing milk
retailers as well as producers, have resolved to support any
measure which appears to them likely to secure the production
and distribution of milk free from the virus of tuberculosis
and other infectious matter. They rightly contend that
any measure for guarding the public against tuberculosis as
communicated in milk or meat should be administered by
the Board of Agriculture and the Local Government Board,
and should be applicable to the whole country. Further, they
urge upon the President of the Board of Agriculture the
necessity of including tuberculosis among the diseases dealt
with under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act."
In connection with the above I may state that the following
two motions were brought before the Public Health Committee
by Dr. Des Vœux, viz.:—
(1) That in future all specimens of milk purchased for
analysis shall be subjected to a bacteriological
examination.