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26
Ice Cream Vendors.—The London County Council, after
considering the views of the various Borough Councils on tne
question of compulsory registration of ice cream vendors,
decided that the powers already possessed by local sanitary
authorities in London, were sufficient to protect the public
from danger arising from the consumption of ice cream.
I am still of the opinion that powers should be obtained
to secure the compulsory registration of ice cream vendors,
and that the local sanitary authorities should be empowered
to refuse such registration should the person or premises be
unsuitable for the purpose.
During the year an inspection was made of all the ice
cream vendors in the Borough. The premises, in the majority
of cases, were found to be satisfactory, but in some cases it
was necessary for action to be taken regarding their
condition.
Many premises are not suitable for the handling of so
easily contaminated a food as ice cream, and there is often a
lack of personal cleanliness about the vendors.
In a few cases the premises are used for making the cream
only, it being sold from barrows in the street, but generally
speaking it is sold at the premises at which it is made.
The selling of this commodity from barrows is, in my
opinion, very undesirable as the provision for the washing
of the utensils used (glasses, wafer-frames, &c.) is very
inadequate and unsatisfactory.
Schools.—The sanitary condition and water supply of the
Schools is a matter which requires very little attention from
the Public Health Department. The supervision of the
schools is in the hands of the London County Council, but
combined action has been taken when and where required,
with a view to preventing the spread of infectious disease.
An arrangement exists whereby cases of Measles, Whooping
Cough and Chicken Pox are notified by the Head Teacher to
the Medical Officer of Health, at the same time as they send
to the Divisional Superintendent.
These cases are followed up, and the premises are
inspected with a view to any insanitary conditions being
remedied. This form of co-ordination is carried out as far
as possible under the present conditions. There is little or no
contact between the School Medical Officers and the Medical
Officers of Health of the Metropolitan Boroughs. The latter's
knowledge of the health of the school children depends entirely
upon the very little information he obtains from the School
Medical Officers.