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83
MILK SUPPLY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
On June 18th I was informed by one of the milk
purveyors of the district that he had reason to believe that a
case of Scarlet Fever had occurred at a farm in West Sussex
from which his supply was derived. He pointed out that under
his contract he was unable to stop the supply and requested me
to advise him on the matter.
Under the existing provisions of the Public Health
(London) Act your medical officer is empowered, where there is
evidence that the consumption of milk from any dairy is likely
to cause any infectious disease to any person residing in the
district, to inspect such dairy on condition that he has obtained
an order from a magistrate residing in the district in which the
dairy is situated. After visiting he shall report to the Sanitary
Authority, who may thereupon serve the dairyman with a notice
requesting him to appear before them to show why an order
should not be made requiring him to discontinue the milk
supply within their district.
It is obvious that the difficulties which surround such
cases make the procedure practically useless. First, one must
obtain a magistrate's order. This takes a considerable time.
Then comes the visit to the farm. Afterwards the report to the
Sanitary Authority, and finally the Sanitary Authority's notice
to the dairyman. A period of a week or ten days would probably
elapse before any active measures could be taken, supposing
they were necessary.
Under these circumstances I adopted the course of
sending a telegram to the County Medical Officer of Health of
West Sussex, who was good enough to reply on the 22nd June,
the reply reaching me on the 23rd June, to the effect that a case
of scarlet fever had been notified at the farm. The patient was