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14
The milk of Harrow is no worse than that of other
districts.
It is quite possible to produce clean milk : the Americans
have done it. A system of grading- milk according to
purity and cleanliness was instituted in January, 1912, in the
City of New York. At that time 40 per cent, of the City's
supply fell within the definition of the lowest grade C (milk
for cooking purposes). In two years this grade had practically
disappeared; and last year 15 per cent of the total
supply was grade A, and 85 per cent. grade B. For grade
C there was no longer any demand, as the people had learnt
to appreciate the value of higher grades. The milk traders
removed the contaminating conditions when they had to
publish the fact that the milk they sold was in the lowest
category. The removal of the contaminating conditions
were well within the capacity of all producers and dealers,
and did not involve any increase in the cost of milk to the
consumer.
The milk sold in English towns if offered in New York
would be classed in Grade C.
The great value of milk as a food is a cosrent reason for
largely increasing its supply. The consumption in New
York per head per day is nearly twice that in London. Again
the poorer districts in New York use 40 per cent. more per
head than do the wealthier districts.
The bulk of the milk supplied to Harrow comes from
various districts outside, some of which are at considerable
distances. The few dairy farms in the district were inspected
many times during the year : the findings were much
the same as in 1918. The Veterinary Inspector's reports
show that no animal suffered from tuberculosis. Twenty
samples were investigated by animal inoculation for detection
of the tubercle bacillus and all were found negative.
A sample examined in August furnished 1000 B-coli
(organism indicating faecal matter) per cubic centimetre,
but no legal action was taken in the matter as in this
countrv there are as yet no standards of cleanliness for milk.
No action was taken during the year under the Dairies,
Cowsheds and Milkshops Orders of 1885 and 1889. We
should have standards of cleanliness.
Under the Milk (Mothers' and Children's) Order, 1918, a
sub-committee of the Public Health Committee enquires into
the circumstances of applicants for milk either free or at a