View report page

10
and a higher standard should be attained by constant and
vigilant inspection. The Dairy Farmer may not produce milk
of a degree of purity comparable with the Grade A Certified
standard, but the Council are going to have the best possible
under existing circumstances. It will interest you to knowthat
Grade A Certified milk has recently been produced at an
ordinary farm at Reading by experts, showing what can be
done by greater care.
At the Public Health Congress, held at Folkestone last
July I read a paper advocating a stricter and more vigorous
supervision of the cowshed and demanding that a prosecution
should follow in all cases in which it was found that the
requirements of the Milk Regulations under the Dairy Milkshop
and Cowshed Order had not been complied with.
I am still much concerned with the dirty condition of
the imported railway milk. On arrival at the dairies I have
frequently found the surface of the milk covered with hair,
smuts, hay and straw, particles of manure, dust and filth.
I have written to the County Medical Officers complaining
of the milk sent into our district, and have given the names of
the farms from which the milk is obtained, asking for their cooperation.
I am also anxious about the further pollution that
occurs in the home, and note that it is evident that the publicdo
not yet realise what a dust-laden, germ-swarming fluid
milk is by the time it reaches the child's stomach!
With regard to the railway milk, I am glad to notice
that the old-fashioned churns are gradually being replaced by
some that do not permit the entrance of dust and foreign
matter in transit.
SHORT MEASURE DELIVERED.
During the year 1921 complaints were made that in the
distribution of milk short measure was often given. One has
no sympathy with the consumer in this regard, If he will not
use a jug or measure graduated in pint, half pints, quarterpints,
the fault is entirely his Some people are quite content
to rub along with the ancient methods of the 18th or 19th
centuries and seem incapable of imbibing any new ideas.! We
have offered to have the Inspector under the Food and Drugs
Act actually in the house at the time of delivery of the milk
to check the shortage, but this has been declined several times.
I suppose there is no trade which lends itself to fraudulent
practices more than the milk trade does when employees are so