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10
COWSHEDS AND DAIRIES.
The cowsheds have been inspected quarterly in company
with the veterinary inspector who examines every cow most
carefully. There are now five cow.keepers in the borough,
and the animals were all found to be in good condition.
The dairies are frequently inspected and all milk sellers
are required to have suitable appliances for keeping the milk
free from dust.
SLAUGHTER.HOUSES.
These houses have been inspected. The slaughtering is
almost entirely confined to sheep, calves and pigs. The arrangements
are satisfactory, and the aprons and leggings of
the slaughter.men were in fair condition. In one case it was
necessary to order lime whiting of the building.
GENERAL REMARKS.
The report generally is satisfactory. More might be
done if it were thought advisable to go in for further
improvements of a public character involving charges upon
the rates in the present, but tending to improved conditions
for those who may succeed us in the future.
Acts of Parliament for the early notification of births
and the medical inspection of school children, throw many
new duties upon you. I have in previous reports written at
some length on these questions, and I will only draw your
notice to the urgent need of these Acts in certain aspects of
economical hygienics.
The birth rate of this country has been going down for
many years. The decrease in the number of children per
marriage has been gradually spreading from the rich to the
well.to.do, thence to the middle classes, and now to the
artizans and harder working members of the labouring
classes. It is only in the more thriftless classes that a high
birth rate still maintains, and with it in the same classes a
high infantile mortality rate. Now, as the general death rate
is also going down, this might be thought to equalize
matters, but, unfortunately, the circumstances of factory and
town life have a deleterious effect upon those members of the
community who have not a strong constitution to begin with !
Infantile diseases weaken children ! Children's diseases weaken
grown.ups! Trade depends firstly upon the numbers of
the population, and secondly upon the physical powers and
skill of each unit of the population to do his share of effective
labour. Foreign countries have discovered that skill follows
upon increased physical well being, and are taking steps to