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nature of things, cow sheds are continually getting out of order, and
require constant supervision. The regulation of Metropolitan cow sheds
will probably be considerably modified at no distant date, as a Bill now
before Parliament proposes to give power to the Metropolitan Board of
Works to make bye-laws with respect to the condition and appliances of
both cow sheds and dairies, and also with regard to the protection of milk
against infection or contamination. The most common way in which
milk becomes infected with the germs of deadly disease is by the addition
to it of sewage-polluted water. It is not necessary that the water should
have been added for the purpose of fraudulently increasing the bulk; it
seems to be enough if the vessels in which the milk is received and stored
are washed with foul water. The water supply is, therefore, a matter of
most vital importance: it should be the best and purest that can be
obtained. In London, the water supplied by the companies, though far
from being absolutely pure, is nevertheless the best within reach at the
present time, and to expose it to chances of further pollution, by storing
it in butts and tanks, is both dangerous and unnecessary. Every
dairy in the parish is now provided with a constant supply of water,
and all butts and tanks should be immediately abolished.
The water supply arrangements have, in many cases, been altered in
accordance with my recommendation. Mr. James, of the Oval dairy, has
fitted his three sheds with trough mangers formed of glazed earthenware,
each of which is capable of being flushed by merely turning a tap. This
arrangement, instead of being the exception, should obtain in every case.
The prime cost of fitting this apparatus is, I believe, at the rate of one
pound per cow.
In some cases licenses are applied for, and have been granted, where no
cows are kept. It is the intention of the Sanitary Committee, for the
future, to oppose the granting of licenses, unless the premises are used for
the bona-fide purpose of cow keeping. At the Licensing Sessions, held
last November, the granting of licenses was opposed by direction of the
Sanitary Committee to the persons mentioned below:—
J. M. Richards, 381, Cambridge-road.
W. Greenslade, 2, East-street.
James Farrow, 479, Bethnal Green-road.
Evan Jones, 100, Sclater-street.